Paul, starting from the 8th chapter of II Corinthians, makes a
reference that extents up to the 9th chapter, to the material
contributions to the saints. There, in verses seven and eight of the 8th
chapter , and after he has already made mention of the example of the
Macedonians that: "in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their
joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality", he
turns to the Corinthians and tells them:
II Corinthians 8:7-8
"But as you abound in everything - in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us - see that you
abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing
the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others."
It was the last part of verse 8 that drew my attention. Whether the
Corinthians would show diligence, earnestness, interest for others and their
needs, would show also the genuine of their love. And this is the measure of the
genuine of our love: the interest for others. Not simply the interest in words
but also the interest that is realised in action; the interest that would make
us with joy to accept to take something from ourselves and give it where there
is a bigger need. As Paul again says:
II Corinthians 8:9
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might
become rich."
And as Philippians 2:5-8 also says:
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He
humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death
of the cross."
Jesus Christ whose mind we are called to have, humbled Himself and went
even to the cross. This He did only because He loved us. As the
Word of God says in Ephesians 3:19, "to know the love of Christ which
passes knowledge" Jesus Christ loves us with genuine love that
passes knowledge. This love, this mind, we are called by God’s Word to follow
as well, loving in the same way one another. For, as James asks:
James 2:15-16
"If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and
one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but
you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does
it profit?"
"You don’t have to eat….. Never mind my brother….. God bless
you". Usually it is we the means through whom the Lord passes His blessing
to the others, and if we don’t have genuine love then even if we say nice
words, "what does it profit"? Also as John in I John 3:16-18 says:
I John 3:16-17
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And
we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has
this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from
him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
We knew the love of the Lord not because we read nice words, but because
these words were made acts – His love was manifested by giving Himself for us.
In the opposite side of this example we have the brother who though he has the
material ability he does not want to help. "Shuts up his heart from
him" says the Word, choosing not to show mercy. In this case however,
"how does the love of God abide in him?" With two questions the Word
leaves no place for misunderstandings and illusions: "what does it
profit?" says James. "How does the love of God abide in him?"
asks John, to conclude a verse later:
"My little children, let us not love in word or in
tongue, but in deed and in truth."
and again
