Approachable Life is GENTLENESS

The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT

Podcast Episode: The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT – GENTLENESS #4

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. There is no law against these things.” [Galatians 5:22-23 NLT]

We need to understand that love is the first characteristic of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is well placed at the head of the list, for it permeates all the rest of the attributes. Somehow, if we live a life of love, the other virtues will attend us all the days of our lives. Love is the key that unlocks the entire fruit basket of Galatians 5:22-23, as well as permeating in the LOVE Chapter of the book of 1 Corinthians 13 – New Testament – in the Bible.

In John 14:6-7 NLT says, “6 Jesus told him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. 7 If you had really known Me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!”

In John 3:16-17 NLT says, “16 “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.”

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Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples,

Pastor/Chaplain Elias Aguilar Busuego Jr PhD DTM

Founding Pastor – Home Fellowship Churches – https://homefellowshipchurches.org

Chaplain – American Legion District 10 – Texas

trinityblessings@homefellowshipchurches.org is inviting you to scheduled Zoom meetings.

Ruth Works in Boaz’s Field

In Ruth 2:19-22 NLT says, “19 “Where did you gather all this grain today?” Naomi asked. “Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!” So, Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.” 20 “May the Lord bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.” 21 Then Ruth said, “What’s more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is completed.” 22 “Good!” Naomi exclaimed. “Do as he said, my daughter. Stay with his young women right through the whole harvest. You might be harassed in other fields, but you’ll be safe with him.”

Naomi had felt bitter (Ruth 1:20-21), but her faith in God was still alive, and she praised God for Boaz’s kindness to Ruth. In her sorrows, she still trusted God and acknowledged His goodness. We may feel bitter about a situation, but we must never despair. Today is always a new opportunity for experiencing God’s care.

As widows, Ruth and Naomi could only look forward to difficult times. (See Ruth 1:8-9 for more on a widow’s life.) But when Naomi heard the news about Boaz, her hope for the future was renewed (Ruth 2:20). Typical of her character, she thought first of Ruth, encouraging her to see if Boaz would take the responsibility of being the “family redeemer” (Ruth 2:20).

A family redeemer was a relative who volunteered to take responsibility for the extended family. When a woman’s husband died, the law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) provided that she could marry a brother of her dead husband. But Naomi had no more sons. In such a case, the nearest relative to the deceased husband could become a family redeemer and marry the widow. The nearest relative did not have to marry the widow. If he chose not to, the next nearest relative could take his place. If no one chose to help the widow, she would probably live in poverty the rest of her life, because in Israelite culture the inheritance was passed on to the son or nearest male relative, not to the wife. To take the sting out of these inheritance rules, there were laws for gleaning and family redeemers.

We have a family redeemer in our Lord Jesus Christ, who though He was God, came to earth as a man in order to save us. By His death on the Cross, He has redeemed us from sin and hopelessness and thereby purchased us to be His own possession (1 Peter 1:18-19). This guarantees our eternal inheritance. Amen!

Though Ruth may not have always recognized God’s guidance, He had been with her every step of the way. She went to glean and “just happened” to end up in the field owned by Boaz who “just happened” to be a close relative. This was more than mere coincidence.

As we go about our daily tasks, God is working in our lives in ways we may not even notice. We must not close the door on what God can do. Events do not occur by luck or coincidence. We should have faith that God is directing our lives for His purpose. Amen!

Cynicism and gentleness are opposite responses to the same hardships. Some sufferings and trials break and wound, and those who are broken and wounded are made malleable – soft putty in the hands of God. These broken souls are gentle in every way. They become – because of all they have suffered – the best counselors of God.

All in all, the book of Ruth may be the apex or high point of our study on the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and particularly the fruit of gentleness. Each aspect of the story sees gentleness as the approachable life – treating others with kindness so that all may approach and not be afraid. Amen!

Person Who is Under the Compulsion of Love

In Proverbs 10:12 NLT says, ” Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.”

Hate does indeed stir dissension – but gentleness brings camaraderie and openness. When we are filled with gentleness, we are able to live out the purposes of God in our lives. For only when we are gentle, will people see us as approachable? Only then will they trust us. Only then will we be able to minister to them.

Ministry as if for example our small group is the purpose of God in our lives. Therefore, it is mandatory that we embrace gentleness. The writer of Proverbs says we must always be aware that to harbor any hatred or to permit ourselves any grudge will keep us in such a state of dissension that a gentle spirit will elude us.

“Hatred stirs … but love covers,” in Proverbs 10:12 really means: Hate agitates … love pacifies; hate boils in the soul … love sails on a placid sea of forgiveness; hate spreads its cancerous tentacles … love removes the ugly tissue of resentment and replaces it with the clean, healed tissue of health.

Watch a person who is filled with hatred. That person will vent, spew, and be unable to talk without a vitriolic spirit owning his or her speech.

Conversely, watch a person who is under the compulsion of love. That person will serve our Lord Jesus Christ, and the manner of service will be gentleness. Amen!

Our Lord Jesus Christ Blesses the Children

In Mark 10:13-16 NLT says, “13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him. 14 When Jesus saw what was happening, He was angry with His disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then He took the children in His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ was often criticized for spending too much time with the wrong people children, tax collectors, and sinners (Matthew 9:11; Luke 15:1-2; 19:7). Some, including the disciples, thought our Lord Jesus Christ should be spending more time with important leaders and the devout, because this was the way to improve His position and avoid criticism. But our Lord Jesus Christ didn’t need to improve His position. He was God, and He wanted to speak to those who needed Him most.

It was customary for people to bring their children to a rabbi for a blessing. Thus, people were bringing children to our Lord Jesus Christ so that He could touch them and bless them. The disciples, however, thought the children were unworthy of the Master’s time. In the first century, Jewish households were patriarchal – men came first, women and children next. Considering their inability to have any quiet time together, the disciples may have viewed these parents and children as another intrusion and drain of time and energy. So, they told the parents not to bother our Lord Jesus Christ. Once again Mark emphasized that the disciples misunderstood both our Lord Jesus Christ’s compassion and His mission.

When our Lord Jesus Christ saw His disciples rebuking the people for bringing their children, He was very displeased with their insensitivity. They thought children were a waste of time, but our Lord Jesus Christ welcomed them. He, in turn, rebuked the disciples, giving them in a double command to let the children come and don’t stop them.

Our Lord Jesus Christ explained that little children have the kind of faith and trust needed to enter the Kingdom of God. Anyone of any age who exhibits their kind of faith and trust is promised access to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Kingdom. Children represent the essence of discipleship, coming to our Lord Jesus Christ in humility and receiving His blessing as a gift. Unless we can completely trust in God, we will never get into the Kingdom of God. Amen!

Man, or Husband Chosen as High Priest

In Hebrews 5:1-6 NLT says, 1 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. 2 And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. 3 That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs. 4 And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. 5 That is why Christ did not honor Himself by assuming He could become High Priest. No, He was chosen by God, who said to Him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” 6 And in another passage, God said to him, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

The Hebrew readers would have known that a high priest is a man chosen to represent other human beings in their dealings with God. A high priest had two primary jobs: representing God to the people by teaching the Word of God, and representing the people to God in making atonement for their sins (Leviticus 1–4; 16). The high priest served as the “boss” over all the other priests, so he was in charge of presenting the people’s gifts to God and offering their sacrifices for sins. Every sin required a penalty and a sacrifice in order for the worshiper to receive forgiveness. No person could offer a sacrifice without the aid of a priest as a mediator. The idea of mediator is central to the Bible. Humans subject to sin and by nature inclined to sin need mediation in order for them to establish any relationship with a holy God.

The Jewish high priest was only human, subject to the same weaknesses as other people. This verse pictures a high priest who, fully alert to his own sinfulness and mortality, empathizes and deals gently with the people he represents, even though they are ignorant and wayward. The priest’s knowledge of the people is intense, personal, and empathetic.

Of all people, the high priest should understand how humbling a job he had – and how vital a role he played. Without his mediation, the people would perish. He had to offer sacrifices, both for their sins and for his own sins. The high priest, while holding an honorable and prestigious position as mediator between God and the people, was not absolved from penalty for his own sin. Neither was he in a special category of human beings or exempt from the law himself.

The position of high priest carried special honor, and no one could become a high priest just because he wanted to. The high priest had to be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was (Exodus 28:1-3). Aaron, brother to Moses, served as the first high priest of Israel. Leviticus 8 and 9 describe the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons. Their “holiness” came from God alone, not from the priestly role.

As the Old Testament high priests did not take upon themselves the honor but were honored by God’s selection. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not exalt Himself to become High Priest. Our Lord Jesus Christ also was chosen by God, as demonstrated by the quotation from Psalm 2:7, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” Our Lord Jesus Christ became the High Priest and perfectly fulfilled the requirements.

Although our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the above requirements for becoming the perfect High Priest, He did not have one significant requirement: He was not born into the tribe of Levi and had not descended from Aaron. Our Lord Jesus Christ was of the tribe of Judah (see Genesis 49:10; Matthew 2:6; Revelation 5:5). Only Levites could be priests, and only descendants of Aaron could be high priests in the Jewish system. The book of Hebrews, however, tells how our Lord Jesus Christ’s priesthood was greater than the Aaronic priesthood by quoting Psalm 110:4: “You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.” These words, coming from the inspired psalmist David predicted that the Messiah would come from a line of priests not traced back to Aaron. This theme is discussed extensively in Chapter 7. The priests in the line of Aaron were not priests forever. Our Lord Jesus Christ, however, is a priest forever. In addition, Aaron’s descendants were priests but not kings. Israel’s kings could not serve the functions of the priests (those who tried faced dire consequences, such as Saul in 1 Samuel 13:8-14 and Uzziah in 1 Chronicles 26:16-21).

We’re all in this together. When we serve others, we can look into the faces of those in need of our healing touch and know that we are a breath away from their situation. When we serve others, when we share gentle words and deeds, may we remember that God’s grace allows us to be able to give.

This passage is a reminder to all of us Born-Again Christians that every person has been saved from a life of sin and alienation from God. Even the priests of the Old Testament, those who were called by God, were subject to the same temptations and moral weaknesses as any other people. Such knowledge keeps those who minister to others gentle in all their dealings. They know how close they are to being the one ministered to instead of the one ministering.

The difference between those who are members of God’s family and those who are still bound to sin lies in their appropriation of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone allows us to approach our world with gentleness. Gentle is what happens to fierce when our Lord Jesus Christ touches it with grace.

Let’s never get over the effect of God’s saving transformation on people’s lives. People who were lost in sin, filled with anger and bitterness, give up their hatred and become approachable. That is, of course, why we minister to others. Those of us who minister are not people to whom gentleness comes naturally. We are people who have been remodeled by grace. We thankfully leave our old natures far behind as we embrace gentleness in our treatment of others.

When we consider that we are all sinners, saved by grace, our ministry to others becomes gentle. We understand where we came from – a world of hopeless despair without our Lord Jesus Christ. We also understand where we are going – to a bright future with God forever. In the meantime, we gently bring hope to others, so that they will find us approachable. Only then, we will have opportunity to share the grace of God with them. Amen!

Rejoice and Make a Joyful Noise to Our Messiah

In Zechariah 9:9 NLT says “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s colt!”

The last six chapters of the book are two messages delivered late in Zechariah’s life. These messages point to the Messiah and His second coming. Some of these prophecies were fulfilled before the Messiah came, perhaps by Alexander the Great; others were fulfilled during the Messiah’s time on earth; and others will be fulfilled when He returns. Those who oppressed Jerusalem – Aram, Philistia, Phoenicia – would be crushed. Zion’s promised King would come – first as a servant on a donkey’s colt, later as a powerful ruler and judge.

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s ultimate gentleness is captured in this Messianic picture of a great King riding on a donkey. Isn’t this the noblest challenge to our own hard-hearted lifestyles? We prefer the image of power and control – a white steed and the appropriate banner – just so we can feel good about ourselves. Surely when we feel like we ought to be treated royally, we will remember Zechariah’s picture of the Servant – Messiah and worship God in a spirit of gentleness.

Our Lord Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey. As He arrived, the mood was a wild celebration of His Messiahship. We cannot really imagine how Palm Sunday would have been pulled off if our Lord Jesus Christ had ridden into town on a great white steed. Would the celebration have been as wonderful if the people had been in awe of our Lord Jesus Christ’s might and power? All that can be said is that our worship transcends glory when God – Jesus Christ – approachable. We offer our freest praise when we are unafraid. Isn’t God holy? Aren’t we to live in sobriety and the fear of God? Surely, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (see Psalm 111:10). But the whole point of God becoming a man in person of our Lord Jesus Christ is to take the severity out of our relationship with God. Our Lord Jesus Christ called the majestic God “Abba” or “Father.”

Now in our Lord Jesus Christ is God made gentle. He comes to us on a donkey, but with His power, He will conquer death and hell. There will be no question that He is a great conqueror. He chooses to present Himself with humility and peace. Our Lord Jesus Christ here is consciously opting for the servant mentality and image. His gentle entrance to His final week of life could have left no one in doubt of that.

He is gentle. God who creates the cosmos and orders the tides is ours in our Lord Jesus Christ, and we cry in utter praise, “Hosanna! Blessed is the gentle one who comes in the name of the Lord! Our wildest praise is born in the wake of His gentle love.

We are looking forward on that glorious day! Amen!

Please continue below for the Invitation to meet our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!

Now, let’s talk about “Prayer and “Salvation”.

Prayer is the key that unlocks and reveals faith. Effective prayer needs both an attitude of complete dependence and the action of asking. Prayer demonstrates complete reliance on God. Thus, there is no substitute for prayer, especially in situations that seem impossible.

So, let our hearts and minds in tune with God, in the power of God, the Holy Spirit. Let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. We as Born-Again Christians have been tried and cleansed, we have moved freely into a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that is more powerful than it was before our trials. We are at home in the presence and fellowship of God, for we are heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ, more like Him that we could ever have dreamed possible. So, let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. Amen!

The principle is that no one has anything of value to bring to God in order to deserve salvation, mercy, justification, or even a second glance from God. The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. Acceptance before God cannot be achieved by good deeds, piety, or any amount of self-proclaimed righteousness.

Let’s never get over the effect of God’s saving transformation on people’s lives. People who were lost in sin, filled with anger and bitterness, give up their hatred and become approachable as we have studied and learned last time. That is, of course, why we minister to others. Those of us who minister are not people to whom (fruit of the Holy Spirit) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control comes naturally. We are people who have been remodeled by grace. We thankfully leave our old natures far behind as we embrace the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, the first of the list > agape love of God, and in our treatment of others. Amen!

Sunday by Sunday as we come to worship, let me encourage our brothers – and sisters-in-Christ, and I want my readers and listeners to be both strong in the faith and sensitive to others’ needs. Because all, we as Born-Again Christian believers are strong in certain areas and weak in others. We constantly need to monitor the effects of our behavior on others.

In these GENTLENESS Series of Podcast, we learned the following PURPOSES of this fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT:

• Gives us the idea of forbearance, patience or self-control
• To learn the art of ego displacement
• Helps us to speak of friendliness and cheerfulness
• Learn to humble ourselves like a child
• Know a way of winning others to Christ
• The Best Approachable Life
• The Art of Ego Displacement

On every Podcast, I always have three (3) questions we can answer from only these two (2) Sources: The Bible and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit. The following are:

First is about our > Observation: What do these passages or Scriptures say to you?

Second is about our own > Interpretation: What do these passages or Scriptures mean to you?

Third is about how we can apply > Application: How do the meaning of these passages or Scriptures apply to you or to your situation?

If you are not sure that you are Born-Again Christian believer or you have relatives, loved ones, friends, neighbors, and people in your circle of influence, please take a look and/or guide them to one of our ministries, “An Invitation to Meet Our Lord Jesus Christ” at https://homefellowshipchurches.org/an-invitation-to-meet-our-lord-jesus-christ/

Let’s give an opportunity for the lost souls to experience on being Born-Again Christian as explained by our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of John 3 in the New Testament of the Bible.

It is as simple as A, B, & C > Admit, Believe, & Confess. All Born-Again Christian believers prayed this simple prayer, we called “Sinner’s Prayer”

“Father God, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge and admit that I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I believe and have faith in Jesus Christ who was born of Virgin Mary, died on the Cross for the penalty of my sins, and rose again that I may have the eternal life. I confess and declare Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord of my life. Please comfort, guide, and help me Holy Spirit to live and grow in my spiritual life according to Your Words, purpose, and perfect will of God, in my Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!”

If you prayed this, “Sinner’s Prayer” sincerely in your heart, you are Born-Again Christian believer. However, you are a spiritual baby who needs to grow up. (See 1 Peter 2:2). You need to find a church or fellowship to grow spiritually. We are glad to establish or bring the fellowship to your own home if it is safer by appointment.

Now, let me pray for all of you:

Father God, we come into your presence in our Lord Jesus Christ name, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ for Your agape love and forgiveness you have done on the Cross of Calvary, and continue to intercede for us in prayer. Thank you, Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter. Thank you for the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage and strength. We cling, yield, plug-in and tune-in to you Holy Spirit to help us understand God’s Words, obey them, receive Your divine revelation, know the Truth that sets us free, and apply them in our lives, in our Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!”

Let’s praise and worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Give all thanks to God for all answered prayers.

Please send your > Praise Reports (answered prayers) and New Prayer Requests via email to: trinityblessings@homefellowshipchurches.org. God bless you all and our families!

A Message to be Blessed:

A Call to Repentance and Be Blessed

In Malachi 3:7-15 AMPC says, “7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ 8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it”, says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” [Malachi 2:2.] 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer (insects and plagues) for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruits before the time in the field,” says the Lord of hosts. 12 “And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight”, says the Lord of hosts.

If the people would obey God, giving as they should, God would flood His people with blessings. There would be an overabundance of God’s blessing if He was given what He requested.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse – See 2 Chronicles 31:11; cf. 1 Chronicles 26:20; Nehemiah 10:38; 13:5, 12. If the temple storehouses were empty, it was the people’s fault. God had already blessed them with enough to give a little back to Him.

Instead of destroying our crops (blessings), God would make them come in greater abundance than we had ever imagined possible (Amos 4:9; Haggai 2:19; Zechariah 8:12). The devourer – probably referring to locusts, though the word here is general in meaning (Baldwin). In the Near East, locust swarms are known for their ability to damage huge tracts of agricultural land (see note on Joel 1:4).

A delightsome land – All of the blessings promised to Jacob would come to pass if the people would obey God (Deuteronomy 33:29; Zechariah 8:13). Their land would be a delight to all who saw it (Daniel 8:9).

The problem in Malachi 3:7-12 was the people’s departure from God as reflected by their neglect of tithes and offerings. Two annual tithes were required according to Israelite law – one for the Levites (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21), and one to be used in worship at the annual feasts in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 14:22). A tithe was required every three years to provide for the needs of the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). There is debate as to whether this tithe for the poor was in addition to or served as a substitute for the tithe used in worship.

The New Testament pattern for tithing is proportionate giving – a person is to give “in relation to what you have earned” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Certainly a tithe should be given proportionate to one’s wealth, but not all proportionate giving is a tithe.

The anticipation of blessing for obedience to God’s command to tithe was based on the Mosaic covenant, which promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Malachi 3:10; cf. Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Generally, God will meet the needs of His own people (Psalm 34:9-10; Philippians 4:19), but that is not an unconditional guarantee. There certainly were and are exceptions. Yet, where God chooses not to provide physically, He gives sufficient grace to go without (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The problem in Malachi 3:14-15 was that the people were guilty of arrogant words against God. They were saying, “There is no prophet who is serving God,” and “God is not concerned about justice.” God responded by showing that He did distinguish between the wicked and the righteous. The righteous would be blessed, and the wicked would be judged.

A Call to – Make A Difference – Generous Giving

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 NLT says, “1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways – in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us – I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”.

Paul, writing from Macedonia, hoped that news of the generosity of these churches would encourage the Corinthian believers and motivate them to solve their problems and unite in fellowship.

During his third missionary journey, Paul had collected money for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. The churches in Macedonia – Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea – had given money even though they were poor, and they had sacrificially given more than Paul expected. Although they were poor themselves, they wanted to help. The amount we give is not as important as why and how we give. God does not want us to give grudgingly. Instead, He wants us to give as these churches did – out of dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ, love for fellow believers, the joy of helping those in need, as well as the fact that it was simply the good and right thing to do. How well does your giving measure up to the standards set by the Macedonian churches?

The Kingdom of God spreads through believers’ concern and eagerness to help others. Here we see several churches joining to help others beyond their own circle of friends and their own city. Let’s explore ways that we might link up with a ministry outside our city, either through your church/fellowship or through a Born-Again Christian organization such as Convoy of Hope – The Bridge Church -Hutto, Texas (My adopted local home church). By joining with other believers to do God’s work, we increase Christian unity and help the Kingdom grow. Amen!

The Corinthian believers excelled in everything – they had faith, gifted speakers, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love. Paul wanted them to also be leaders in giving. Giving is a natural response of love. Paul did not order the Corinthians to give, but he encouraged them to prove that their love was real. When we love someone, we want to give that person our time and attention and provide for his or her needs. If we refuse to help, our love is not as genuine as we say.

There is no evidence that our Lord Jesus Christ was any poorer than most first-century Palestinians; rather, our Lord Jesus Christ became poor by giving up His rights as God and becoming human. In His incarnation, God voluntarily became man – the person Jesus of Nazareth. As a man, our Lord Jesus Christ was subject to place, time, and other human limitations. He did not give up His eternal power when He became human, but He did set aside His glory and His rights (see Philippians 2:5-7). In response to the Father’s will, He limited His power and knowledge. Our Lord Jesus Christ became “poor” when He became human because He set aside so much. Yet by doing so, He made us “rich” because we received salvation and eternal life.
What made our Lord Jesus Christ’s humanity unique was His freedom from sin. In our Lord Jesus Christ, we can see every attribute of God’s character. The Incarnation is explained further in these Bible passages: John 1:1-14; Romans 1:2-5; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 1:1-3.

The Christians in the Corinthian church had money, and apparently, they had planned to collect money for the Jerusalem church a year previously (see also 2 Corinthians 9:2). Paul challenges them to act on their plans.

Four principles of giving emerge here: (1) Our willingness to give enthusiastically is more important than the amount we give; (2) We should strive to fulfill our financial commitments; (3) If we give to others in need, they will, in turn, help us when we are in need; (4) We should give as a response to our Lord Jesus Christ, not for anything we can get out of it. How we give reflects our devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!