Are You and I the “Not as Expected?”
Did you know that you can be the unexpected? I don’t mean just showing up on someone’s doorstep just before dinner in an attempt to be invited in for dinner as an unexpected guest. Rather, there are ways most of us can be unexpected people of a wealth of generosity. It is a grave danger to live a life that is about getting with no thought of giving.
Paul’s Observation of the Unexpected
Paul said this about some churches in Macedonia when he wrote to the church in Corinth. Corinth, by way of reminder, was a wealthy seaport city in Paul’s day.
“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.” 2 Corinthians 8:1-6
Some Things to Remember
Paul says that the unexpected started with a proper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. They then cared about Paul (“to us.”) Then they had generosity, even though they were very, very poor. Now, if that wasn’t enough, they gave according to what seemed reasonable to the average person but then they did the unexpected and gave “beyond their means.”
Notice Their Posture
They had an “abundance of joy.” In other words, this was not a difficult thing for them in light of all that they had received from God. If you think about it, because of what Christ had done for them, this should not be unexpected. What can we learn from this?
How to Identify a Follower of Jesus
There are really only two choices when it comes to how we deal with the poor. One is to oppress him or her and not really seek to recognize they are image bearers created by God. Oppression can be the act of doing nothing when something can be done. The other choice is to be generous. Followers of Jesus are generous people.
“Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” Proverbs 14:31
Five Minute Friday
This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.
All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.
Know Your Flocks & Herds 