I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality-- at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, "HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK."Paul explains to the church at Corinth that the reason for his point of view on generosity is not only theological in nature. In addition, Paul tells the church that their generosity is beneficial for them as well. The church at Corinth had a noble desire that they needed to actively follow through on and finish. However, the church was struggling with following through on the commitment that they had made over a year earlier. Paul wanted the church to be careful that their motivation behind the giving was proper and pleasing to God.
You see, there would be a temptation toward competition that could arise between the churches. The church at Corinth could become motivated to give sacrificially simply to show that they were as spiritual as the churches of northern Greece. Thus, their generosity would not flow from being exceptionally interested in reflecting Christ’s generosity through loving and serving others. This motivation would not flow out of the same ‘no strings attached” willing desire to invest their treasure to meet the needs of the church at Jerusalem. In verse 12, Paul addresses this possible temptation by explaining that what God finds pleasing and acceptable in terms of their generosity in giving will be based solely on a motive of reflecting Christ’s generosity through loving and serving others. And in the same way today, God is far more concerned with the heart attitude behind our actions. Our generosity is to be driven by our love for Christ and what He has done for us and motivated by a desire to reveal and reflect Christ’s generosity to others.
In verse 13, Paul responds to an addition exception that might be raised by the church. Paul explains that the purpose of the Jerusalem famine relief fund was not so the members of the church could get a new house, camel, or a new and improved affluent lifestyle. Instead, Paul explains that the purpose of the famine relief fund was to bring equality. Now it is important to understand that Paul here is not promoting socialism or income redistribution. The word equality here literally refers to a state or situation being held in proper balance. Paul then unpacks the application of equality in verse 14. At the time of the writing of this letter, the churches that were located in Greece had a surplus of resources. And by reflecting Christ’s generosity through the famine relief fund, they would be able to meet the pressing needs of the church at Jerusalem. In the future, Jerusalem may benefit from the blessings of a surplus of resources, while at the same time Greece may suffer from a famine. At that time, the church at Jerusalem would be in a position where they could reflect Christ’s generosity in a way that would meet their needs when it came to meeting pressing needs.
So by willingly reflecting Christ’s generosity, their generosity would result four positive results. First, reflecting Christ’s generosity would result in pressing and practical needs could be met. Second, reflecting Christ’s generosity would result in the unity and community of the different churches being revealed for the whole world to see. Third, reflecting Christ’s generosity would result in God’s kingdom mission being advanced. And fourth, reflecting God’s generosity would be result in something that could be reciprocated in the future, if the need arose.
And to reinforce his position, Paul quotes a section of the Old Testament found in Exodus 16:18. As the Jewish people were being led out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land, God provided manna in the desert for the Jewish people to eat. Every morning, the Jewish people would go out and gather the manna from the dessert. Some gathered a great deal of manna, while others were not able to gather as much. However, when the manna was distributed, each Jewish person received enough manna to meet their needs. The Jewish people willing gathered according to their ability and willingly shared with those who did not have the same ability. Paul’s point here is that the members of the church at Corinth, and us here today, are to respond to God’s activity in the world with an attitude of loving gratitude that reflects God’s generosity to others. Because we are to be generous because Jesus is generous.
So what does your generosity, or lack of generosity, say about your relationship with God? And what motivates you to be generous? Do you believe that Jesus is generous? And do you believe that you are to be generous because Jesus is generous? Does your generosity flow from an attitude of loving gratitude in response to Jesus is and what Jesus has done?
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