II Corinthians 8:8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.
As Paul wrote this second letter to the Corinthians, one of the things on his mind was the collection that was being made to help the mother church in Jerusalem and Judea. Most of the Gentile churches were joining in joyfully to help with this, and this church had indicated their intention to do so. Would they follow through. Once again, Paul was being gentle with this congregation yet challenging them to go through with their commitment. What was the big deal? First, it was for their good as well as that of the Judean church. But even more importantly, generosity is a sign of the sincerity of our faith: to both obey the Spirit of God, and to trust God to supply our needs when we give sacrificially. Their completing the promise they had made would help prove to him that indeed they were repentant, and God was at work in their hearts. This was both a reminder and a test of the sincerity of their faith.
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