Word of Encouragement (4/28/2021)

Today, instead of reflecting on a prayer, we will think about God’s desire for us to be a reason for someone else’s thanksgiving to God. This is what Paul says in 2 Cor. 9:12-15: “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift” (2 Cor. 9:12-15)!

Here, “the ministry of this service” was the collection the Corinthians promised in support of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem and delivering it to them. Jerusalem had recently experienced a severe famine and Paul asked the Gentile Christians, including the Corinthians, to contribute to their relief. Many churches responded with a pledge of generous giving. Paul in this letter was urging the Corinthians to make good on their promise. As he did so, he was sharing with them the significance and effect of their giving.

Obviously, this would provide for the needs of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. It is not right for Christians to ignore the needs of other Christians. For we all belong to the family of God as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him” (1 John 3:17)? Of course, we cannot meet the needs of all Christians throughout the world. But we should not close our hearts to the needs that come to our attention, provided that we exercise responsible stewardship of the resources God has given to us.

Paul urged the Gentile churches to contribute to the relief of the Jewish Christians because he saw it as an opportunity to affirm the unity between Jews and Gentiles in Christ Jesus. This was no small thing when the hostility between the two groups in the Old Testament era under the Mosaic Covenant was considered. Christ broke down the wall of hostility and united the two groups as one (Eph. 2:14). And Paul thought it only right that “...if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings” (Rom. 15:27).

What Paul was really excited about “the ministry of this service” was how it would lead to prayers of thanksgiving and praise to God by the Jewish Christians for the Gentile Christians. Obviously, they would be grateful for the generous financial assistance the Gentile Christians provided for them (v. 13). Paul expected many thanksgivings to be overflowing (v. 12). But it was not just for the financial gift; “they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ... because of the surpassing grace of God upon you” (vs. 13, 14). It was ultimately for their confession of faith in the gospel of Christ and their submission to it (as it was evidenced by their generous giving). The Jewish Christians still had to get used to the idea (and some took longer than others) that the grace of God was extended to Gentiles in Christ Jesus. But this gift would help the Jewish Christians to accept the Gentile Christians as fellow citizens in the kingdom of God and brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Ultimately, their thanksgiving was to God in Jesus Christ. They would give thanks to God for His timely provision for them, of course. But they would marvel at how God provided for them—by extending His grace to the Gentiles and moving them by His grace to provide for their Jewish brothers and sisters in the Lord.

This morning, let us give thanks to God for the faith of one another. This is an indescribable gift of God (v. 15), far greater than anything we can receive in this world. Let us also take time to give thanks to God for the way others are ministering to us by giving us their time and counsel, by using their talents, and by sharing their resources. Also, let us give thanks to God that our faith is a source of encouragement to others. And when we submit ourselves to the gospel by ministering to others in readiness and generosity, we can be a reason for many overflowing thanksgivings to God. What a wonderful privilege!