2 Corinthians 8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
Yes my Friends, it’s another Tobago morn; bright and beautiful! (smile) The Lord’s in His heaven and everything’s right with His world, but possibly not with ours. It was rough in Bruh Paul’s time too, when he wrote his second letter to the church at Corinth. And what was that all about? Well, the Christian church has always been poor and scraping for funds, however, according to the historians, on March 23. 37 A.D. in the reign of Caligula, a great earthquake struck the Judean region, followed by another a few years later, in the reign of Claudius, accompanied by widespread famine. The Christians, then the poorest of the poor, suffered terribly, but eventually got help from the church at Antioch. ‘And in those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.’ (Acts 11:27-30) Yes people, that’s where the whole Christian giving thing began; and later on, 50 A.D. at the Council of Jerusalem, they added a special plea to the original decree, requiring Jews living outside of Palestine, and the Gentile Christians to remember and help their suffering brethren in Judea. It seems after this Bruh Paul made missionary giving a standard part of any church he organized. Hn! And what has this to do with Today’s Bit eh? Well, apparently in all the hullabaloo, the Corinthians had promised to donate to the fund, but a year later had not, (vs.10) so Bruh Paul in this second missive, took them to task. I like how he doesn’t mince words, calls a spade a spade. The Corinthians seem to be satisfactory in all other areas. ‘Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, (talk) and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your LOVE to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.’ (2 Cor.8:7) Bruh Paul was so adroit at handling people. He continues: ‘I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your LOVE.’ (vs.8) He wasn’t ordering them to do that which they had promised, but sort of shaming them into doing it, since all the others had been diligent in honouring their pledges, and also to test their true regard for him and the ministry. Oh Friends, doesn’t that sound like our current world, where it’s common practice to pledge donations, or make promises and never fulfill the obligations. That’s why Bruh Paul draped up the Corinthians; they weren’t walking their talk in that regard. ‘Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there be a performance also out of that which ye have.’ It was time to put up or shut up. That attitude describes many of us so-called believers; we’re full of talk, but when the time comes to back it up, we’re suddenly absent. This is certainly not acceptable behaviour my people. In fact it’s ‘unchristian.’, not Christ like at all. Remember the Church can only run on what we believers contribute in terms of time, skill and money. And as Bruh Paul points out, we’re only expected to give of what we have, what we can afford, not to burden us, but to bring some semblance of equality to the proceedings, for those who have to share with their have not brethren. (vs.12-14) That’s why so many churches are failing in today’s time of plenty. The haves don’t want to share with the have-nots, but they consider themselves Christians. Steups! Ah mih people, what they going to do with us eh? Then Bruh Paul does his thing; quotes the Old Testament: ‘As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.’ (vs.15) That refers to Exodus 16:18. My Friends, the Bible calls for us to tithe; give at least one tenth of our provision back to the Lord, who’s the giver in the first place. But it’s not even so much about the amount we give, but that we give what we can afford and give with a right heart, for our God LOVES a cheerful, generous giver. So let’s stop being selfish and greedy nuh. The Lord’s work will never get done; the Word will never be spread to the four corners of the earth, as Jesus desired, if we supposed faithful don’t support it with our gifts of time, talents and money. It’s been proven that those who tithe and/or give generously, never lack or want. You won’t necessarily get rich, though you can, but you’ll always have enough to maintain your standard of giving. So let’s show our true Christian colours nuh, and support our churches the way we ought. We’ll close with some wise words from Sol. ‘There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.’ (Prov.11:24) Please listen up my people! Much LOVE!…be generous…and you won’t lack…be stingy…and you’ll suffer want…
Yes my Friends, it’s another Tobago morn; bright and beautiful! (smile) The Lord’s in His heaven and everything’s right with His world, but possibly not with ours. It was rough in Bruh Paul’s time too, when he wrote his second letter to the church at Corinth. And what was that all about? Well, the Christian church has always been poor and scraping for funds, however, according to the historians, on March 23. 37 A.D. in the reign of Caligula, a great earthquake struck the Judean region, followed by another a few years later, in the reign of Claudius, accompanied by widespread famine. The Christians, then the poorest of the poor, suffered terribly, but eventually got help from the church at Antioch. ‘And in those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.’ (Acts 11:27-30) Yes people, that’s where the whole Christian giving thing began; and later on, 50 A.D. at the Council of Jerusalem, they added a special plea to the original decree, requiring Jews living outside of Palestine, and the Gentile Christians to remember and help their suffering brethren in Judea. It seems after this Bruh Paul made missionary giving a standard part of any church he organized. Hn! And what has this to do with Today’s Bit eh? Well, apparently in all the hullabaloo, the Corinthians had promised to donate to the fund, but a year later had not, (vs.10) so Bruh Paul in this second missive, took them to task. I like how he doesn’t mince words, calls a spade a spade. The Corinthians seem to be satisfactory in all other areas. ‘Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, (talk) and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your LOVE to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.’ (2 Cor.8:7) Bruh Paul was so adroit at handling people. He continues: ‘I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your LOVE.’ (vs.8) He wasn’t ordering them to do that which they had promised, but sort of shaming them into doing it, since all the others had been diligent in honouring their pledges, and also to test their true regard for him and the ministry. Oh Friends, doesn’t that sound like our current world, where it’s common practice to pledge donations, or make promises and never fulfill the obligations. That’s why Bruh Paul draped up the Corinthians; they weren’t walking their talk in that regard. ‘Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there be a performance also out of that which ye have.’ It was time to put up or shut up. That attitude describes many of us so-called believers; we’re full of talk, but when the time comes to back it up, we’re suddenly absent. This is certainly not acceptable behaviour my people. In fact it’s ‘unchristian.’, not Christ like at all. Remember the Church can only run on what we believers contribute in terms of time, skill and money. And as Bruh Paul points out, we’re only expected to give of what we have, what we can afford, not to burden us, but to bring some semblance of equality to the proceedings, for those who have to share with their have not brethren. (vs.12-14) That’s why so many churches are failing in today’s time of plenty. The haves don’t want to share with the have-nots, but they consider themselves Christians. Steups! Ah mih people, what they going to do with us eh? Then Bruh Paul does his thing; quotes the Old Testament: ‘As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.’ (vs.15) That refers to Exodus 16:18. My Friends, the Bible calls for us to tithe; give at least one tenth of our provision back to the Lord, who’s the giver in the first place. But it’s not even so much about the amount we give, but that we give what we can afford and give with a right heart, for our God LOVES a cheerful, generous giver. So let’s stop being selfish and greedy nuh. The Lord’s work will never get done; the Word will never be spread to the four corners of the earth, as Jesus desired, if we supposed faithful don’t support it with our gifts of time, talents and money. It’s been proven that those who tithe and/or give generously, never lack or want. You won’t necessarily get rich, though you can, but you’ll always have enough to maintain your standard of giving. So let’s show our true Christian colours nuh, and support our churches the way we ought. We’ll close with some wise words from Sol. ‘There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.’ (Prov.11:24) Please listen up my people! Much LOVE!…be generous…and you won’t lack…be stingy…and you’ll suffer want…
SCRIP-BITS 