Chapter 8 from the second Epistle of Paul to Corinthians explains that Christians from this church initiated a charity to support the needs of the saints a year ago, but they still haven\u2019t come to an end with it. Christians from Macedonia took this initiative and they acted very quickly. Apostle Paul sent Titus and another brother known by the churches to finish this collection in the church from Corinth, so that they may go and take these collected goods to the saint who were suffering and needed them. Here are some practical advice Apostle Paul gave the Corinthians concerning the participation on the support of the saints, or how to bestow charity:<\/p>\n
As there was the desire, so there may be the completion of it<\/strong><\/p>\n There is\u00a0a proverb spread among our people, that says: \u201cNever put off till tomorrow what you can do today.\u201d This proverb becomes true, especially when there is a matter of charity. So many people had so nice intentions that remained unaccomplished. Here is why Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthians:<\/p>\n I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.\u00a0But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. (2 Corinthians 8:10\u201311)(NASB)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Give with readiness<\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t bestow charity because you are imposed by someone or by some circumstances, or because you are manipulated by someone, or because you do not want to seem worse than others. Help people only when you do this with all your heart and with readiness.<\/p>\n For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. (2 Corinthians 8:12)(NASB)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Give according to your resources<\/strong><\/p>\n No one is expected to give what he doesn\u2019t have, but it is not good when one has some goods that he could share with others, but he remains unfruitful. God waits from everyone to give according to their ability, according to their resources.<\/p>\n For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality\u2013\u00a0at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;\u00a0as it is written, \u201cHE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.\u201d (2 Corinthians 8:13\u201315)(NASB)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Apostle makes a reference to the times when Israel were eating manna in the desert. Every morning they had to collect manna that was enough for a day, and during the Sabbath they could collect manna for two days. One who collected more had to share with those who didn\u2019t manage to gather as much. It happened so a day, another day could happen inversely. In this way, diligent people helped one another and no one lacked. God urges us to do this way all the days of our lives and to bring Him glory in this way.<\/p>\n Translated by Felicia Djugostran<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chapter 8 from the second Epistle of Paul to Corinthians explains that Christians from this church initiated a charity to support the needs of the saints a year ago, but they still haven\u2019t come to an end with it. Christians from Macedonia took this initiative and they acted very quickly. Apostle Paul sent Titus and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":180441,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[126],"tags":[7793,7796,7798,30690],"class_list":{"0":"post-53783","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-answer-from-the-bible","8":"tag-advice","9":"tag-man","10":"tag-people","11":"tag-church-en","12":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n