And in this I give
advice:
it is to your
advantage not only to be doing
what you began and
we're desiring to do a year ago;
but now you also must
complete the doing of it;
that as there was a
readiness to desire it,
so there also may be
a completion out of what you have.
For if there is first
a willing mind, it is accepted
according to what one
hand has, and not
according to what he
does not have.
For I do not mean
that others should be eased
and you burdened; but
by an equality,
that now at this time
you're abundance may supply their lack
that their abundance
also may supply your lack -- --
that there may be
equality.
2 Corinthians 8: 10 -- 14
Before I
continue a must apologize for yesterday's blog I gave a reference as 2
Corinthians 8 when in fact it was 2 Corinthians 5. Apologize and the hope that you will look of those scriptures up
and apply those of your life.
Unfortunate times I get a bit rushed.
Let me continue. Starting today
I am traveling to Fresno for a few days so I made this a couple days in writing
this blog will continue as soon as I get back: thank you!
The
Corinthian church had been gathering gifts, money, and whatever was needed for
the churches some one year previously and Paul is now commending them for their
charity. It is by the grace of God,
that must be owned as the root and foundation of any good in us, or done by us,
at any time, and by this great grace we receive favor from God, and this due to
the fact that God has made us useful to others. The Macedonian churches were in distress, yet they contributed to
the relief of others. How often does
that not happen with you or within your church? We can find out about this affliction occurring in the book of
Acts 16:17. At affliction had reduced
the Macedonians in poverty in many cases and yet they had some abundance and
even had an abundance of joy in the midst of the tribulation and therefore they
abounded in their liberality and gave out ugly little trusting God to provide
for them. I personally have found that
God provides I do hope that is true also with you, that you are trusting God to
provide for you in every situation. You
may not be what you would like to have, that is, more, that God will give you
what you need. Even out of a little the
Macedonians made a large contribution.
It must be remembered that Christians care for their brothers and
sisters and this is a command of God as found in John's writings. This charity was founded in true piety. They solemnly and unanimously maybe fresh
surrender of themselves, and all they had, unto the Lord Jesus Christ. This was a sanctifying of their
contributions to do God honor, by first giving themselves to the Lord. Think upon this carefully; when we give
ourselves to God, to be used by God, we must give to him our whole, for we are
called to be disposed of according to His will. Whatever we decide to give to God for his use, it must be
understood that we are only giving back to Him what is His own. We expect God to accept our charity He will
not necessarily turn this to our advantage unless we first give ourselves to
the Lord. Titus was used to handle
these gifts of charity and he was a proper person to be employed for this
service. It is a wise thing to use
proper people in this work, so that what we desire will use well. Our charitable gifts must be ascribed to the
grace of God and by this we do give glory to God to whom it is due. Furthermore, it also shows men wear their
strength is, and enables them to be humble believers and see that the Lord has
special love to them, and this is found in the fruits of their love to Him and
to His people. Our spiritual joy
enlarges man's heart abundantly in the work in labor of love and by this they
do more than they could have done otherwise.
This is so different from the conduct of those who will not concur in
the good work unless urged to it: and this is found in the emotional pleas by
many church leaders and pastors to somehow cause people to give and they give
not due to the award due to the emotional plea and this is very wrong. We must surrender ourselves to the Lord so
that we may live to his glory for we are partakers of His salvation, so
therefore, living for the Lord places in a happy frame of mind. As the apostle wrote to stir up the
Corinthian to do this good work up here he, I also am attempting to stir you up
to do this good work of charity. To do
this faith is mentioned first, for this is root, and without faith it is
impossible to please God (Hebrews 11: 6), so if you abound in faith, you will
abound in other graces and good works also in all this work will show itself by
love. Many have faith, there are those
who want to be placed upon a pedestal.
Our love to be abundant and be expressed to those ministers who are
leading us and this to will give you at the grace to abound in charity to the
poor. This is a great work that God has
given us and by this work we are to care for one another and this also been
good and should extend to the world.
He who gives to the poor will not lack,
but he who
hides his eyes
Will have many curses.
Proverbs 28: 27
Today, give indiscriminate charity
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