Day 52: 2nd Corinthians 7-9. The Offering
A good portion of these chapters is taken up with the offering that Paul is bringing to Jerusalem, and that he hopes the Corinthians will contribute generously to. In Macedonia, they astonished Paul with their generosity, and it might seem that he is shaming the Corinthians (a somewhat wealthier congregation) to do their part. it is not that they are not going to give anything; he wants them to (cheerfully )give generously, not just a little. Paul goes back and forth -- give generously, he tells them. But then he will say, but I'm not saying you should give above your means, just what is appropriate. Then again, "God loves a cheerful giver." But again, it's not what you don't have that counts, but what you DO have. He doesn't seem to want them to give out of guilt or compulsion, but freely, but this is really really important to him. He wants it to be important to them. I think I understand this. I want people in my congregation to giv...