2 Corinthians 8:7-15

 "But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 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 through His poverty might become rich. 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. But 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. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— at 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; as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”  2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Well...Paul was a socialist...sort of...

In continuing his discussion on benevolence Paul lays down some important guidelines...
1. It is not a command, but it is proof of the sincerity of our love for the Body of Christ.
2. It models the sacrificial offering that Christ gave on our behalf (Philippians 2)
3. We are not expected to give what we do not have.
4. Benevolence is intended to create some sense of equality in the Body of Christ.

Allow me to suggest Paul does not intend that all church members be financially equal. He suggests we help each other to the degree that we will all have enough to help each other. He also repudiates the notion of "seed faith" giving that has become popular in some churches...giving more than we have so God will multiply (for us) what we just gave. That's merely selfish.

Finally...and most important...Philippians, chapter two, says "therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;  do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men".

This leaves only one question...if that same Jesus lives in us, don't we imagine He is still as generous as He was then?

Live boldly out there today...