I’m not giving an order, but by mentioning the commitment of others, I’m trying to prove the authenticity of your love also. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you could become rich through his poverty. I’m giving you my opinion about this. It’s to your advantage to do this, since you not only started to do it last year but you wanted to do it too. Now finish the job as well so that you finish it with as much enthusiasm as you started, given what you can afford. A gift is appreciated because of what a person can afford, not because of what that person can’t afford, if it’s apparent that it’s done willingly. It isn’t that we want others to have financial ease and you financial difficulties, but it’s a matter of equality. At the present moment, your surplus can fill their deficit so that in the future their surplus can fill your deficit. In this way there is equality. As it is written, The one who gathered more didn’t have too much, and the one who gathered less didn’t have too little. (2 Corinthians 8:8-15, CEB)
Here, Paul is writing to the Corinthians. There is a community in need, and the Corinthians have a surplus. They can help the other community. Paul is not ordering them to help, but is showing them why they should care for others.
Jesus, in His richness, stepped down from the throne and took on poverty, so we could become rich through his poverty. We become richer by becoming poorer. Poorer in what the world sees as richer and richer in what actually makes us rich.
Love of others is what we are called to.
Love People. Love God.
Become rich through poverty.
aSacredRebel 