Monthly Archives: August 2023

2 Corinthians 8- The Church

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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 8:13-15

What is the Church? Sounds like a simple question , but many might come up with different answers , the Greek word its usually translated from is “Ekklessia” which means called out assembly, in short the Church is the people, the Born Again believers in Christ

The pandemic I believe taught us alot about what the real Church is, as many buildings were closed, the Church still lived on. The Church is not a building, its the body of Christ, its you and me, our sisters and brothers in Christ. Wherever you are , there is the Church! With that said, we should physically gather whenever its possible, especially on The Lords Day!

So why belong to a Church? Because we are a family of God, we are all  brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, therefor we need to take care of one another as a family. That’s what the Apostle Paul is teaching the Church here “For I dont mean the others should be eased and you should be burdened, but by an equality” Paul is teaching the Churches to take care of one another, when one is in need the other will help them. Then when that Church is in need, then the other Church will help them

This is how a family operates, right? We all go through seasons of good and bad times, when we are going through a bad season, we need our family to help us out. And this doesn’t just mean financially, we need to help each other out spiritually and physically. Maybe somebody just needs someone to talk to or to just give them a ride somewhere, the body of Christ should be there for one another like a family

It’s interesting, Paul quotes the book of Exodus here “He who gathered much had nothing left over and he who gathered little had no lack” (Exodus 16:18) The Church who has an overabundance should share with the Church who is lacking. In the Kingdom of God, nobody is lacking because everyone takes care of one another! This should be the model of the Church, a family in Jesus Christ, Amen!

2 Corinthians 8- Count The Cost

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And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 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. 2 Corinthians 8:10-12

Jesus tells us to “Count the Cost” of becoming a Christian. Jesus said “Which of you , wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if you have the resources to complete it” (Luke 14:28) Christ is not given us home improvement advice, he’s speaking metaphorically to our spiritual lives. If your going to be a disciple of Christ, first you must consider the cost of being a disciple of Christ, because it will cost you everything!

Now this ties into what Paul is teaching here , he’s instructing the Church to finish what they have started. This goes back to “Counting the Cost” of being a Christian. When you start a ministry or serve The Lord , you can’t bail half way through your work. I mean technically you can quit on God, but what does that say about you? What does it say about your faith in Christ? What does it say about all the work you already have done for The Lord?

When we accept a calling by God, we need to count the cost of what its going to take to complete it. And some might say, well its going to take forever to complete it, well there you go, its going to cost you your entire life, are you ready for this? Is your family prepared for this? Approaching ministry like project management is not always a bad idea, examine everything take make sure you are spiritually and physically ready to commit to your calling

Look at what Paul is saying to the Church here “Let me give you advice, it is to your advantage not only  to do what you have been doing, but now you must also complete the doing of it” Paul is saying “You guys are doing great work for The Lord, but its equally important that you finish your work for The Lord”

Did you ever hear the expression “Your only as good as your last” We see this in sports and careers, people have great success, however when their career comes to an end, people remember that one last time, that last failure, it can tarnish an entire career. There is no retirement age in the Kingdom of God, we need to keep working as if today is our first day on the job! Keep the fire burning for The Lord!

Paul also says “For if first there is a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not one does not have”  This reminds me of when Jesus fed the great multitude (Matthew 14) It’s easy for us to focus on what we don’t have to complete Gods calling in our life, but Christ wants us to give him what we do have! 

Count the cost, give your life to Jesus Christ and God will supply all your needs to complete the mission Amen!