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They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity (2 Corinthians 8:2, NLT).
In 2 Corinthians 8, the Apostle Paul writes to the Macedonians.
With famine in Israel, Gentile churches throughout the Roman Empire had pledged offerings to help. The Macedonians, despite their poverty, gave generously, while the Corinthians, even though wealthy, hadn’t fulfilled their financial commitment.
Paul was writing to the Corinthians, illustrating the “life-altering” generosity of the Macedonians who gave out of their poverty.
Through my career as a pastor, I’ve been blessed to witness saints with limited resources give beyond their means, to the extent that if God didn’t fulfill this promise, they would suffer with their personal finances.
God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Yesterday, my wife and I attended a church in Springfield, Ohio, to hear a young preacher speak.
The church was packed, mostly with young people. And while I sat there, I thought, “What’s going on in this church right now might not be happening without a ‘Macedonian’ lifestyle-altering financial gift that I witnessed 34 years ago.”
Be patient. Let me explain!
In 1991, my wife and I felt impressed by the Spirit to visit fledgling churches in the St. Petersburg area of Russia. Our income at that time was about $20,000, and we estimated that this trip would cost three thousand dollars.
We didn’t have the money for the trip, so we prayed. Also, when we told others about our intentions to go to Russia, we were met with comments like “That’s too expensive” or “Don’t go to Russia since we need to reach the lost in Springfield.”
Soon after the decision to go to Russia, my mom and dad stopped at our house and asked, “We hear that you want to go to Russia. We like the idea of missions. How much will the trip cost?”
I said, “Three thousand dollars.” They wrote a check. My father made money selling used cars, and I knew they would be sacrificing something that they needed to give this money. For them, it was life-altering generosity.
Back to last weekend at the church Barbara and I attended.
After that first trip to Russia, others saw the need and enabled me (without my wife) to go on a second and third trip. On the third trip, I met an 18 year-old young man who had recently become a believer and could barely speak English.
In the 32 years since that third trip in 1993, that young Russian learned to speak fluent English, went to Bible college and seminary, married and had three children, became a Christian leader, and a U.S. citizen. . .
And yes, he was the preacher my wife and I went to hear speak.
I can’t prove it, but as I looked at the church audience listening to a great sermon and watching the engagement of both young and old during worship, I did think. . .
I wonder what this church would be like today if my parents hadn’t given a life-altering financial gift allowing my wife and me to go to Russia in 1991.
HHHHMMMHHM!