Issue 18 - Day 6

2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8:1-4
1)  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2)  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3)  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4)  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

Sometimes when you read scripture you find yourself thinking it means one thing when it actually means another. Most often we look at this chapter in view of how we are to give, and it is spot on. We are to give to the work of the Lord to the limits of our ability. When we are facing trials in our lives God will bless us and give us grace. How much he gives us is dependant on how much we are prepared to give to him. I don’t mean that God’s blessing is given as one minute of blessing for every pound you put in the offering on Sunday morning. No, God blesses us in direct relationship to how much we open our hearts to him. It is like turning on a tap. Turn it full on and everything in its path will be washed away, when we often want to keep that stuff. So we only let in a trickle and complain about the lack of water.

However this chapter is mostly about supporting pastors. Paul reminds the church of how they supported him, begging him to feed them spiritually, and giving to him financially to enable that work. Now he is sending Titus to them, and they clearly had doubts. No, he has the same power and authority in the word, says Paul. Treat him the same, support him the same as me. Anyone willing to take on ministering to the spiritual needs of the body should be recognised and supported in that by the body.