Your Spiritual Journey
Generosity and Charity
In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul, speaking about their generosity and charity says, “the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry, you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your partnership with them and with all others” (2 Cor. 9:12-13). A key line there for me is “obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ.” What does that mean? How can we be obedient to a confession of good news (gospel)? I would say we do that by embodying the good news itself! In the context of 2 Corinthians 8-9, those early Christians are becoming obedient to the gospel by sacrificing their funds to support those in need – quite in-step with the sacrifices Christ made to bless us. In this sense, obedience isn’t standing idly by until an explicit command comes along, but it pushes us to be proactive and act in whatever way the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus compels us too – that is true obedience to the gospel.
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).
Blessings,
Houston
