Finishing What You Started

I am a completer of tasks. If I have something that I am working on, I like to see it finished. (Well ... except for the novel I seem to never get finished.) If I say I am going to do something for someone, I make sure to get it done. If I make a plan, I like to see it carried out. Or if I decide I want to add some component to my daily life, I do my best to stick with it. (Like this weight loss/healthier eating adventure I have been on since last November.)

I know others who are the exact opposite. They say they will, but they don't. They say they can, but they won't. And while this would drive me crazy, to them it seems to be no problem. To each his own, I guess.

Aren't you so glad God is a God of his word? He never backs down from that word. He is constant in everything. One scripture I love to think on, because I know he will follow through, is Philippians 4:19:

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

What does that mean, exactly? This scripture tells us that God is going to supply everything we need (not want). He is going to do that according to his riches. We all know that he owns the cattle on a thousand hills, so his riches far surpass anything we can imagine. There is no limit to his riches.

The fact that he will give these riches out of his glory in Christ Jesus means that it is through Jesus and because of Jesus that we have access to the Father.

Can you imagine that kind of giving? Let me give you an example ... Suppose I win the Mega Lottery (which would be a miracle in itself because I don't buy tickets.) I have my $650 million in my purse as I am walking down the sidewalk. I see a homeless family sitting huddled under the shade on the side of the street. They have nothing ... no car, no food, no home, NOTHING.

I can offer to take them to the local Golden Arches for some Bid Macs and Happy Meals. That would be nice of me, and I would be meeting a need. But I would hardly be giving "according to my riches." There is so much more I could do for them from what I have.

But if I took that family and found them a place to live, bought them clothing and household supplies, got them a decent car, and filled their pantry with groceries, then I would be doing a little better job of meeting their needs "according to my riches."

But could I do more for them with what I have? Absolutely! I could set up a bank account, help them find jobs, put aside college tuition for the kids, and make sure they have good health insurance.

Now I am meeting even more of their needs. And I will still have enough money to not only provide for myself and my own family, but to help others as well.

This is what Paul is telling the believers in Corinth in this portion of his letter. They had been the ones to originally want to give to the believers who were struggling in Jerusalem. It had been their idea and they had been eager to give.

But now it seems they have slacked off. They didn't finish the task. The churches in Macedonia have picked up the slack and are giving generously and with true hearts to give. Paul is challenging, not commanding, that the Corinthians get back in the race, with generosity in their hearts, and finish what they started.

He spelled it out like this:

Each person should follow through on their previous promise

Each person should give as much as they are able

Each person should decide for themselves how much to give

Each person should give in proportion to what God has given them

Paul wants them to give generously, but not to the point where their families have to go without. And he reminds them that the attitude in which they give is very important. (Do you remember the story of the widow with two mites?) It is not just the size of the gift, but the heart in which it was given that God is concerned with.

This same rule of thumb applies to us today. We are to give ... of our time, our talents, and our finances. We are to give according to what we can give, and we are to do so with a grateful heart. It should be our heart's desire to further the Kingdom of God through our giving.

This applies not only in our churches, but in our communities. What ministries can you support that are making a difference in the world? Are there struggling families in your neighborhood who could use a helping hand? The needs are all around us, if we just look with open eyes and generous hearts.

And as we do this, we make good on our promise of finishing the race.