by Hugh DeLong<\/p>\n
In II Corinthians 8-9, we find instructions for the disciples to share with one another on an ongoing basis-specifically, addressing the needs of poverty and famine among their fellow disciples. The situation in Judea was bleak; the disciples simply were in serious need of help. Thus, the instructions given by Paul were that brethren were to show their love by means of taking up a contribution for these needy saints. Paul instructs the Corinthians that such a contribution was based upon at least two considerations. Each disciple would determine for himself how much he could help. “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver<\/em>” (II Corinthians 9:7).<\/p>\n Secondly, in I Corinthians 16:1, Paul instructed that such consideration was to be based upon how much the disciple has ‘prospered.’<\/p>\n These two principles remain the foundation of how we express our love for one another. God, in this way, provided for the needs of His people. He could have provided manna as He did in the time of Moses, but He chose to work through the hearts of His people. The overflowing of His graciousness to them was shared with those who were in need. Such was a proof of their love, not only for God but for their brothers in the Lord.<\/p>\n As we have the opportunity, this continues to demonstrate our love and service. What God has bountifully given is given for us to use. As God makes “all grace abound to you, so that you have all sufficiency in everything in order that you may have an abundance for every good deed<\/strong><\/em>” (II Corinthians 9:8)\u00a0and that you might be “enriched in everything for all liberality<\/strong><\/em>” (II Corinthians 9:11).<\/p>\n How are you using God’s gracious gifts unto you?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Hugh DeLong In II Corinthians 8-9, we find instructions for the disciples to share with one another on an ongoing basis-specifically, addressing the needs of poverty and famine among their fellow disciples. The situation in Judea was bleak; the disciples simply were in serious need of help. Thus, the instructions given by Paul were…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[194,834,585],"class_list":["post-90799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-benevolence","tag-generosity","tag-sharing"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18293,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-about-the-contribution-mentioned-in-romans-1526-isnt-that-making-fellowship\/","url_meta":{"origin":90799,"position":0},"title":"What about the contribution mentioned in Romans 15:26? Isn’t that making fellowship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 7, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What\u00a0you have said\u00a0has been\u00a0very\u00a0helpful and I am growing in my understanding now. This is what you said: \u201cFellowship is\u00a0a description of who they were. They were a people of one heart and one soul. Thus fellowship is\u00a0a description of their state or attitude toward each other. When people turn\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24655,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/fellowship-a-word-study\/","url_meta":{"origin":90799,"position":1},"title":"Fellowship: A Word Study","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 13, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Becky Rene It is essential at this point that we understand how our spiritual fellowship is expressed. So we will take the time to examine the noun \u201cfellowship\u201d (koinonia) in all the contexts in which it appears. Some of the verses are difficult to understand because the translators have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/fellowship.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20504,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-the-bible-say-the-church-worshiped-on-sunday\/","url_meta":{"origin":90799,"position":2},"title":"Does the Bible say the church worshiped on Sunday?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 16, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a few questions and comments concerning the texts given as proof of Sunday worship outlined in the article: \"Is sex on the Sabbath a sin?\" The verses are Acts 20:7 and I Corinthians 16:1-2. Acts 20:7 speaks of an act that is done on any day, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90182,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/love-bears-all-things\/","url_meta":{"origin":90799,"position":3},"title":"Love Bears All Things","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Greg Weston The word Paul used in this text, which is translated \"bears\" in the New King James translation, means \"to cover\" (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, p. 586). Thayer gives the varied usage of this word as \"1. to protect or keep by covering, to preserve... 2. to cover with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31132,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-church-treasury-only-in-an-emergency\/","url_meta":{"origin":90799,"position":4},"title":"A Church Treasury, Only in an Emergency?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 24, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Gordon J. Pennock via\u00a0Truth Magazine\u00a0- January 1961 It seems that considerable controversy has arisen regarding what we call the church treasury, meaning of course the funds contributed by the members of local churches. This controversy seems to be a by-product of the discussion of scriptural and unscriptural ways in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":91000,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-apostle-paul\/","url_meta":{"origin":90799,"position":5},"title":"The Apostle Paul","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Hugh DeLong Most of those who will read this note would acknowledge the fact that Paul was a chosen apostle, chosen by Jesus (Galatians 1:1), witnessed the resurrected Jesus (I Corinthians 15), was acknowledge and given the right hand of fellowship by the other apostles (Galatians 2:9), and was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90799\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}