Just last year, the desire was definitely there. Their hearts were touched by the poverty of the Christians in Jerusalem. They had so much, but the believers in Jerusalem had so little. Imagine this was a transcript of their discussion last year:
“We really need to do something for them. God has richly blessed us with material things, and the very least we can do is help our brothers and sisters in Christ who are going through difficult times. After all that Christ has done for us, the least we can do for Him, and His people is to dip into our pockets and bank accounts and help them out. I am thrilled to be able to do this. Let’s get on with it!”
But now it’s a year later. Other local churches had sent funds to help the Jerusalem believers – but what about the Christians in Corinth? Whatever happened to their plans? They were so pumped and so keen to do something to help out. In fact, they were the first off the block to rally the troops to give and to give generously. But it seems their exercise faded; their enthusiasm vanished; they settled back into a life of spending their money on themselves. Other churches, who had less to give, gave generously; but it was a different story in Corinth. Sadly, a lot had changed in just twelve months. The Apostle Paul had to write them and say this:
I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 2 Corinthians 8:10-11
Last year, the assembly in Corinth didn’t have to be coaxed to give. Last year, they weren’t just going through the motions of giving; last year, they had the ‘desire’ to give! But this year, things were different. They needed some very direct prompting from the Apostle to get on with their original plans. Somehow within a twelve-month period, their spiritual vision had been lost; they had been derailed and side-tracked.
Have you had a year like that? Has the local assembly of Christians had a year like that? A year when everything ‘went south’ – and your spiritual aspirations took a nosedive? The spiritual desire that once energized you as a Christian and opened your eyes to the great possibilities of what can be done for Christ – GONE! GONE! GONE!
Can you retrace your steps over the past year? Where did the slide begin? The ‘thin edge of wedge’ that started to divide your heart – what was it? The withering of exercise; the dimming of your vision; the barrenness of your soul; the cynicism and snideness of your thoughts – when did it start and what was the original cause? What was the first injection of poison that so damaged your spiritual health?
Don’t blame it on COVID19. For years, maybe centuries – believers in other parts of the world have had to deal with dire hardships, major upheavals, diseases without medical support, crushing poverty and starvation, decades of civil wars and very real ‘targeted’ (not imagined) persecution for their faith. How did they stay happy and faithful?
Christians are responsible for the condition of their own hearts – despite the circumstances. It’s easy to insert that truism into this post – but it’s not easy. Bitterness and discouragement can slip in through the slightest crack in my heart.
How long do you plan to live in your current state? Are you happy this way? Do you want to live the rest of your Christian life like this?
Be sure of this; my thinking will not improve, nor will my spiritual condition change for the better – unless I personally confront my own ‘wrongness.’ I must confess what has happened to my heart over the past year; turn a corner on it; leave it behind and refocus on my life for the Lord.
Are you willing to do this, or do you really want to hang on to it longer? Why?
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
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