Reading 2 Corinthians 8, I am both drawn to and repelled by Paul's description of the Christians in Macedonia. His assessment that "their extra happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity" seems such an odd formula: happiness + poverty = generosity. I'm drawn to wanting to feel "extra happiness." I'm repelled by the comparison of their poverty with my relative affluence (in United States economic demographics, I live above the poverty line) as qualifying generosity.
What the Macedonia Christians *did not have* did not deter them from giving; rather, they asked for, welcomed, and then responded to the opportunity to give. That's extravagant generosity.
Paul focuses on their priority: They gave themselves to the Lord first. That's our priority, too. Our belief in Jesus - our accepting and receiving and responding to God's extravagant generosity to us in Him - is the first perspective for understanding our assets.
This Jesus in whom I trust my present and Eternal future. I can trust to give me economic wisdom, too. Believing that I will always have enough frees to give out of what I have. In that freedom, there really is extra happiness.
Reading 2 Corinthians 8, I am both drawn to and repelled by Paul's description of the Christians in Macedonia. His assessment that "their extra happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity" seems such an odd formula: happiness + poverty = generosity. I'm drawn to wanting to feel "extra happiness." I'm repelled by the comparison of their poverty with my relative affluence (in United States economic demographics, I live above the poverty line) as qualifying generosity.
ReplyDeleteWhat the Macedonia Christians *did not have* did not deter them from giving; rather, they asked for, welcomed, and then responded to the opportunity to give. That's extravagant generosity.
Paul focuses on their priority: They gave themselves to the Lord first. That's our priority, too. Our belief in Jesus - our accepting and receiving and responding to God's extravagant generosity to us in Him - is the first perspective for understanding our assets.
This Jesus in whom I trust my present and Eternal future. I can trust to give me economic wisdom, too. Believing that I will always have enough frees to give out of what I have. In that freedom, there really is extra happiness.