BIBLE BITES
What Happened Since Last Year?
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. “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 Christ has done for us, the least we can do for Him and for 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 died; 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 in Corinth it was a different story. Sadly, alot had changed in just twelve months. The Apostle Paul had to write them and say this:
Have you 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?
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?