"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
2 Corinthians 8:9
Christ gave everything that he had, for us. And yet, in doing so, he gained everything. A footnote to this verse is 2 Corinthians 6:10: "... as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." I love that idea... of giving all that we have, and being refilled over and over by God. And I think that is what happens. I'm definitely not saying to go into debt or not to provide for our families, but I wonder if we worry too much about what is left over, that we could be sharing with other people, and helping them.
Later in this chapter it says "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." Which is a good clarification... it isn't about suffering intense hardship ourselves so that we can lift up others. It's about becoming more equal. God offers us everything that he has... to become like him. If we similarly offer what we have to other people, and help them to grow and achieve, then we're making a richer society, where everyone has a chance to develop their talents and become more than they are... and again, we share those developed gifts with each other and continue that cycle.
I think that we make the mistake a lot of blaming people for poverty, or hating people for unshared wealth. We don't know anyone's circumstances, what tragedies they have suffered, or the mistakes they've made in their lives, and whatever they are, I really don't think that we can say we're any better. What we can do is what Christ did... he gave of himself to others. Wherever we are, whatever we have... money, talents, knowledge, compassion, etc... we can follow his example and make the world better. Today, let's do what we can to enrich the lives of others. :)
2 Corinthians 8:9
Christ gave everything that he had, for us. And yet, in doing so, he gained everything. A footnote to this verse is 2 Corinthians 6:10: "... as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." I love that idea... of giving all that we have, and being refilled over and over by God. And I think that is what happens. I'm definitely not saying to go into debt or not to provide for our families, but I wonder if we worry too much about what is left over, that we could be sharing with other people, and helping them.
Later in this chapter it says "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." Which is a good clarification... it isn't about suffering intense hardship ourselves so that we can lift up others. It's about becoming more equal. God offers us everything that he has... to become like him. If we similarly offer what we have to other people, and help them to grow and achieve, then we're making a richer society, where everyone has a chance to develop their talents and become more than they are... and again, we share those developed gifts with each other and continue that cycle.
I think that we make the mistake a lot of blaming people for poverty, or hating people for unshared wealth. We don't know anyone's circumstances, what tragedies they have suffered, or the mistakes they've made in their lives, and whatever they are, I really don't think that we can say we're any better. What we can do is what Christ did... he gave of himself to others. Wherever we are, whatever we have... money, talents, knowledge, compassion, etc... we can follow his example and make the world better. Today, let's do what we can to enrich the lives of others. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment