Gifted to Serve预览

Throughout Paul’s New Testament writings, there is the mention of an offering collected from the Macedonian churches that was to be given to the struggling Christian church in Jerusalem. Many papers have been written on the subject, with several points of view. This offering wasn’t just about the money, although Jerusalem was in great financial need. This offering was intended to unify the early church. The greatest threat to these early congregations was the divisiveness caused by the Judaizers, who insisted the Old Covenant Law needed to be kept. Paul understood that what people did with their money changed their hearts and lives. The Jerusalem Christians needed to “receive,” and the Macedonian Christians needed to give. The offering that Paul collected is discussed in today’s passage.

This money was intended to benefit and bless everyone, financially and spiritually. Jesus was preaching his Sermon on the Mount when he said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). Paul understood what Jesus meant by those words and followed the Lord’s wisdom in his own ministry.

“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24–25).