Paul
the apostle shared with church members in Corinth about, “the
forwardness of” their
“mind, for which” he
“boasted of” the
Corinthians “to them of
Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago”,
and he added, that their “zeal
has provoked very many”.
In chapter
nine and verse three of Second Corinthians, Paul tells the
Corinthian church members how he, “sent
the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain”
where we read:
Yet have
I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in
this behalf;
that, as
I said, you may be ready:
The verse begins, “Yet
have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain
in this behalf; ”
Paul began with the word, “yet”
which means “moreover and” “have
I sent” which
means “Paul bid a thing to be carried to one” “the
brethren”
which refers to “fellow believers who are united to another by the
bond of affection” “lest”
or “so that” “our boasting”
which refers to “Paul and his companions' vaunting and glorying”
“of you”
which means “the church members in Corinth” “should
be in vain”
or “would be made empty, void, deprived of force, useless and of no
effect” “in this behalf”
which means “this part, lot and destiny”.
Paul sent his brothers in the Lord, otherwise, he and his companions'
“praise and glorying” of the church members in Corinth would be
“empty”.
The verse goes on to say,
“that, as I said, you may be ready:”
Paul continued with the words, “that” or
“so and in order that” “as I
said”
which means “according, in proportion and agreeably Paul uttered,
proclaimed and declared”, “you may
be ready”
or “the church members might be prepared”. Paul sent the
“brethren”
so his “boasting”
concerning them would not be “empty”. Those who serve Jesus
Christ and have given their lives to Him shall be prepared to give to
others in the church.
When we think through
these words of Paul, we see how
important it was for him to “send” brothers to the Corinthian
church to receive their “offering” as he “boasted” to others.
Paul knew these brothers would come to the church members, find them
ready to “give” and confirm his message about them. When a group
of Christians gather such as the Corinthians, there should be a
purpose to help Jesus' church at large. Not only were they to provide
for their own needs, but they were to put aside funding for others.
Many call this “mission” giving or giving to missionaries. God
owns everything, and when He blesses a church with provisions, they
should seek to share with those who “preach the gospel”. If they
do not, those who “boast” concerning them shall be “glorying in
vain”.
Next
time Paul shares concerning,
“if
they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then,
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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