2 Corinthians 8:12-15

"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
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:
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack."
2 Corinthians 8:12-15


Wow, this is interesting. In this chapter they are mostly talking about giving to the poor, but I think that it applies to a lot of other things as well... building Zion, the whole idea of an ideal community where there are no poor... like the City of Enoch. A fascinating idea, and one that we can work for. In this scripture it starts out talking about a willing mind... and in the Doctrine and Covenants it tells us that "The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind" ... we have to have our wills and our emotions open to the Lord... so, building upon that, if we have a willing mind, then we need to act on it (which it says earlier in this chapter), and we are accepted according to what we have... the Lord is the ultimate in individualized education. If we haven't had inspiration or revelation then he isn't going to expect us to act on it, he is going to start us out at step one, feeling the spirit... or whatever step one is between the two of you. :) If we aren't rich, then he isn't going to expect us to give a million dollars to people in need... he is going to expect us to start out at step one, a dollar... or whatever step one is between the two of you. :) But the whole idea that is absolutely incredible here is the balancing that goes on... whatever we excel in, that's what we can offer to others... and fill the deficits in them... and whatever we lack, that's what we can accept from others, to fill the deficits in ourselves... thus becoming whole, and healthy, and a Zion community. And it is God's will that we live that way, so it isn't like it is trusting in the arm of flesh, if we are doing it correctly... it's like some cool barter system that involves not just loaves of bread and gardening, or jell-o or whatever... but spiritual gifts, and worldly goods, and our talents. :) I think we sometimes get burned on giving in this life, because people try to steal what we have, or demand it, or take it for granted, or reject it sometimes.... but so what, really? Their loss if they don't want to live in a community of giving. It helps us to give, to open ourselves... no matter whether our gifts are rejected or scorned. And when we all do it together, and share our gifts with one another... then we build something better than any of us has ever known. And someday, with God's help, and our efforts... we WILL have that community. Where we share what we have, emotionally, spiritually, materially... something to live for. :)