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than one--I Cor. 16:3) to carry these supplies to Jerusalem. This
was NOT an order to give an offering in church on Sunday morning
for the SPIRITUAL work of the church--as the churches OF THIS WORLD
think. It was an order to go out into the field on Sunday morning,
and GATHER fruit and supplies for hungry, needy saints at
Jerusalem. It was an order for the Gentile-born Christians to
MINISTER with their MATERIAL means to the saints who had ministered
to them SPIRITUALLY.
Then we find the same thing spoken of again in II Cor. 8.
In verse 4 Paul speaks of this ministering to these needy saints as
a FELLOWSHIP with them. It was the kind of Christian fellowship
that DID SOMETHING about it--PERFORMED a good deed. They even GAVE
THEIR OWN SELVES to the Lord (Verse 5). He is speaking now of the
brethren at Macedonia (Verse 1). In verse 8, Paul asks the
Corinthians to PROVE the sincerity of their love by this physical
ministry to the poor saints. Then, verse 9, he illustrated the
GRACE of Jesus toward us all. Though He had been RICH--sharing
the very GLORY AND POWER OF GOD--yet, for our sakes, He became poor
--took on Himself HUMAN nature, subject to weakness and death--in
order that we, through His spiritual poverty, might become RICH
spiritually, until we ultimately, at Christ's coming, shall BE LIKE
HIM, sharing His GLORY, which He has now again, since His
resurrection!
Then, verse 11, Paul tells them to now PERFORM this
service of giving to the poor saints, with a willing mind (Verse
12), according to what each has, not according to what he does not
have. So, verse 14, "your ABUNDANCE" (in material goods) may
supply their want--that "their abundance" (in SPIRITUAL things) may
"supply your (spiritual) want."
And so, dear Co-Workers with me and with Christ, I do
again call on YOU, to GIVE GENEROUSLY to this very work of God of
your material means, in order that WE, together, MAY GIVE
GENEROUSLY IN THE SPIRITUAL MINISTRY of the one and only original
TRUE Gospel of CHRIST to the whole world!
Yes, here we are deep into August--but still in the
difficult summer months. During these months radio reception is
not so good. Many are not able to get the program. OUR MAIL DROPS
OFF 30% to 50%, under the fall, winter, and spring months.
BUT it still takes just as much money to pay the bills of
this great world-wide WORK OF GOD! We have managed to stay on
nearly all of our radio stations through the summer--BUT, unless we
quickly catch up in paying for all broadcast time, WE WILL BE SHUT
OFF THE AIR ON OUR LARGEST STATIONS by September or October--and
THAT is when good reception starts in again!
As the Moffatt translation states it, God does not expect
you to give "what you have not got." He expects you to GIVE
GENEROUSLY, and WILLINGLY, and CHEERFULLY, according to what you
have--according as God prospers you!
THAT IS WHERE PRAYER COMES IN! Do you really PRAY
earnestly, and in faith, that God will prosper you more,