1. Whenever one of the pastors talk about offerings, I think of 2 Corinthians 8. It talks about the Macedonian church, for whom "their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity". I mean that's awesome, to be able to give even in when poor, but the next line adds even more emphasis on the awesomeness of their actions: "For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability."
That "even beyond their ability part" just gets me. Yeah I give, but have I ever given beyond my ability? I was recently reading a book where a woman donates a piece of medical machinery to a missionary. Later the missionary finds out that she took out a loan which took her two years to pay back. Stuff like that gets to me. It reminds me how selfish I am and how attached to money I am.
Seriously, in this economic climate, we have the potential to be like the Macedonian church, to be stuck in poverty (relative to before). But with that poverty comes the chance to be awesome: to give beyond our ability.
2. The second part that is so cool is that the church actually asked Paul if they could give to him. They took the initiative and had the desire to advance the kingdom in that way, without any prompting from others. Isn't that... unworldly?
-Let's show up the Macedonian church
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Sam,
ReplyDeletewhen I first read this post, I was just trying to figure out "whose blog is this?" I am so encouraged by what you are writing, and the heart that it reflects. I was surprised by the amount of maturity you showed in your writing (i'm not talking about writing skills, but about the way that you reflect on the things you have seen, heard, and experienced.) Can't wait to read more!
P.S. I prayed for you today on my run! (to qualify that, I am not a creeper. I was praying for the Jakarta team)
p.p.s. I was recalling Philippians, which I hear you are memorizing, and the two specific prayers for you : 1. That God would carry unto completion the good work he has begun in you.
2. "That your love may abound more and more" even for those people who you haven't yet met.
God bless!