Stay the Course

When Paul was writing 2 Corinthians, he was in the process of collecting and transporting money to Jerusalem from fellow congregations of the church. Jerusalem was struggling amidst a famine, and as God promised, He would meet their needs (Matt. 6:31-33). Providentially, God used the churches to fulfill His promise of provision. According to 2 Corinthians 8:10, the Christians in Corinth came up with the idea to send money to Jerusalem, and a year later, Paul encouraged them to complete their part of the effort, rather than losing their zeal for this good work (2 Cor. 8:11).

The Corinthians had led the charge in generosity toward the church in Jerusalem, and others had been encouraged by them. The Macedonians excitedly gave even beyond what they could give because of the Corinthian church’s influence (2 Cor. 8:1-5). Paul wrote to the Corinthians and informed them about the effects of their example. He then gave them one last push to get them across the finish line of generosity. Others had given because of their love for the Lord and their brethren; Corinth now had the opportunity to display their love also (2 Cor. 8:8).

Ultimately, all who show generosity to others are following the example of Jesus, who gave up more than can be imagined to grant us every spiritual blessing in Himself (2 Cor. 8:9; Eph. 1:3). Like the Corinthians, each Christian can encourage others by providing ways to show our dedication to Christ. And like the Corinthians, each should display their own love for Christ as well. After encouraging others, walk the godly path with them to please the Lord and benefit from the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 9:26-27).