Living in the Spirit
June 25, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. –2 Corinthians 8:9-12

I am a good starter but once things are running well I am ready to move on to something else. I have learned to accept this as part of my personality. Thanks to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), I discovered that I am described as a builder. I need to always work with those wonderfully dedicated souls who like to maintain. Paul had apparently encountered some of my type in Corinth. They apparently had a great idea, initiated it, but did not finish. It appears related to providing care for the poor. It sounds like the Corinthians had experienced an economic downturn and had struck their great idea from the agenda. He is essentially telling them to rework their budget accordingly, but not to give up on that for which they were most eager.

Building the Kingdom of God is a major project where we often take one step forward and two steps back before we experience breakthroughs edging us a little closer to what Jesus envisions.  The events of recent days are proof only that we are still not finished. Whether it is refugees streaming from Syria or Africa, innocent people shot in a church, homes destroyed by nature, or intrinsic bigotry, we must gather the resources that we have continuing our journey toward the final rule of Love.

Prayer: Persistent Lover, foster your eagerness in all of us both builders and maintainers toward your vision of Shalom. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.