Having the right motivation; fulfilling our pledges. The Corinthians had made a pledge to support the churches in Jerusalem (in a sense the “mother church”). However, because of the internal struggles the Corinthians faced in their church, they had not yet fulfilled their promise. This was potentially embarrassing, since the surrounding churches had done what they promised—and all the while Paul had boasted about the Corinthians and their enthusiasm for the Lord’s work. Paul reminds them that their spiritual motivation not only comes from Christ’s example of giving, but also from living up to their calling as leaders in the Body of Christ, as an example to the other congregations. God’s kingdom involves not only the spiritual aspect but also an earthly dimension: it requires the cooperation and contribution of all those who have been blessed with the message of the Gospel. So, it requires a planned strategy and a coordinated effort to be effective in the work God has called us to do. What is God’s unique calling to us at Prince of Peace? Have we been called to be leaders in Christ’s church, or followers? How does one measure what God has given us—and how do we then measure up to God’s calling?
Each summer we at Prince of Peace go “back to basics” as we take a fresh look at our relationship with our loving God and how that shapes our lives in this world. This summer as we go back to basics we consider the topic, “Generous Living.” God our Father has given great and wonderful gifts to His children. He is the most generous Giver, giving even His Son, Jesus Christ for us. All blessings ultimately come to us through Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and man. As God’s people, we learn that God’s design is that we neither hide nor hoard any of the gifts we have freely received from Him. Rather, God invites and calls us to share His gifts with those around us. Our willingness to share what God has given us with others becomes an expression of our gratitude, all flowing from grateful hearts shaped by God’s grace.
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