Riches of Their Liberality, Part III

2018-02-04

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: (14) But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: (15) As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

One might infer that Paul was requiring more of the Corinthians than other churches. On the contrary, he showed that giving was a way for those who have more can help those with less. Those groups of people of who might have more might change over time; the giver and the receiver might change roles in a couple years’ time!

The Corinthians seemed to be in a situation where they were doing better than most at that time. As time goes on, they may get into harder times, and those that they helped before may come and help them (2 Corinthians 8:14). A “want” is not a desire, it is a real need, or a lack of something needed. The offering was to provide the real needs of people.

Paul used an Old Testament principle, when the Israelites start collecting manna for the first time.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (12) I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. (13) And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. (14) And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. (15) And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. (16) This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. (17) And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. (18) And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. (Exodus 16:11-18)

The Israelites, no matter what they collected, they received exactly what they needed (Exodus 16:18), regardless of what they gathered themselves (Exodus 16:17). In our day, the churches must make sure they help each other out. If there are saints in some city that need help, we need to get together and help them. God is not micromanaging us; we are to be lead of the Spirit to make sure we do what we need to help our brothers in other locations.

Continue to Part IV.