Tag: Corinth

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How to get the rich to give.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul is genius in both motivational and inspirational writing to the New Testament churches. As he writes to Corinth, we need to remember just what kind of cultural values were common during that time. Point blank – Corinth was a wealthy city, filled with rich folk! It was a port city that had all the modern conveniences of its day. Goods and services from all over the world came through the city. As we read Paul’s letters, think of Corinth being similar to Newport Beach, California! Choices, options, entertainment, food and a hoppin night life surrounded by multi million dollar homes. Of course there were suburbs of great disparity, where the poor and middle class had to eke out a life, but the churches were a mixed bag of mostly Gentile converts. When Jerusalem was going through enormous persecution and believers were super poor, the leaders put out the call for money to be sent to Jerusalem to feed and cloth those who were suffering. Paul got an early commitment from the Corinth churches, but they had not yet made good on the promise.

Here in Paul’s second letter, he masterfully crafts just the right kind of positive pressure to help the churches keep their commitment. First Paul flatters their ego – I know how eager you are! Then he tells them how popular they among the other churches, even spurring the poorest of the poor churches in Macedonia to give! He’s comparing Corinth’s wealth to Macedonia’s extreme lack of resources. Telling the Corinthians they are a shining example of generosity for even those worse off than Jerusalem. Then, Paul gets a little bit Christian “mafia-ish.” He warns them, “I am sending the ‘brothers’”! Finally he assumes positive intent by saying, he knows that “the money is already collected.” And with one more dig… er… reminder he writes, I know you don’t want me to look bad! The money eventually was sent and Corinth’s generosity was appreciated.

I’m not saying it’s the best way to remind wealthy people or wealthy churches to be generous just as God was generous to every single one of us who follow Jesus – but it worked. 1. Honor and recognize the gift of wealthy people. 2. Remind them of their reputation as an example to others. 3. Assume positive intent and personally follow through, holding them to their good intentions. Does this sound like a good plan? It sure worked for Paul.

Prayer

​Dad,
Rich or poor or in between, you have set the standard for giving and generosity! Not only did you give it all, you also supply it all. And, it’s not only impossible to out give you, it is pure joy to know that beyond what I need is an ample supply of money, time and resources. This comes into my life specifically given TO me so that you can give THROUGH me. What a joy it is to be generous! Thank you for the lessons of faith, value and reciprocity. Amen.

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Do you hunger for the supernatural, then snuggle up to the Holy Spirit.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:10-13‬ ‭NLT‬

This past Sunday I spoke on Jesus final words before leaving for heaven. But before he left, Luke tells us that Jesus “opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” It takes God to help us connect the dots. Paul explains it so well here to the churches in Corinth. Corinth was totally into all things mystical and fantastic.

The Spirit of God shows us the deep secrets of God himself. I believe those deep things are God’s plans and His ways. Paul even says we need “Spirit” words to explain spiritual truths. Jesus was the master of this concept. His words, illustrations and object lessons were simple yet profound. He was taking eternal ideas and making them reachable, accessible to those who had “ears to hear” what the Spirit was saying. He also spoke in parables that cloaked truth just enough to cause the listener to press in an be curious and inquisitive to learn.

Paul certainly was impressive explaining a lot of spiritual truths, especially when it came to wisdom of God and the workings of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote more about the function and ways of the Holy Spirit to Corinth than any other church. You don’t see him write about things of the Spirit nearly as much in Romans or Ephesians. Corinth must have had a curiosity about the workings or “deep” things of God and Paul was boldly explaining them. I think these “spiritual truths” and “deep secrets”

Paul words are difficult for us westerners to understand. Last Sunday I said, we are “mystically challenged.” Oh, we enjoy our sci-fi, fantasy entertainment in movies, books and podcasts. But to explain or experience the the reality and truth of God’s word we are uncomfortable around miracles and the supernatural. It is dangerous to dabble in the fantasy world of spells, wizards, or even the paranormal while denying the very real spiritual realms of God himself and the purpose of power behind it. Let’s do as Paul suggests and reign in our imaginations or “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor 10:5.

Do you want to explore the mystical, supernatural wonder of the spiritual world? Snuggle up to the Holy Spirit and let the Spirit of God lead you into all truth!

Prayer:

Dad,
Let our imaginations, our fascinations, our affections be set on you and only you. Help us not be carried away and tricked into seeking and believing the fantasy world of magic while disbelieving and even denying your deep secrets of plans and purposes of heaven. There is plenty of mystical wonder in the workings of your Holy Spirit. There is a very real power to experience and transform our lives and the world we live in. Let us press in to find the real and not be all enamored with the fake.