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Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. 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. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, ‘The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.’ (2 Corinthians 8:7-15)
Well, dear Friend, yesterday was an unexpected day for us, but I trust you are well and enjoying God's blessings. As most of you read the email I sent last night, my bride fell and broke her left wrist. Please pray as we'll try to see an orthopedic doctor today. Pray that her pain subside. Nellie has a high threshold of pain and to see her this way means she's in a LOT of pain. Thank you for your prayers!
A dear friend used to say in her sermons and in talks with people; "I didn't know I was poor growing up until somebody told me!" I resemble that remark. Dad was the only one of the two parents working outside the home and we were okay. It wasn't until the economy shifted, and the creamery where he worked moved south that we noticed that we were not getting or doing the things we used to. Dad tried many places in Kingsville to find work, but none worked out. The day came when he decided to join other neighbors who had decided Houston was the place to find good work. And so, one Sunday afternoon, after church, we said goodbye to Daddy. He got in a car with some other men and off he went. Needless to say, that was a traumatic event. But it blessed us in that we started praying like never before. And every single Friday, Dad would return home with someone from the neighborhood or he would hitchhike his way home. Sunday he would return back to Houston. That went on for six months and then we moved to Houston with him. That's when we realized we were poor.
Poverty or the lack of money does not stop anything unless you let it. Dreams still flowed into our hearts, and visions of what could be were still ours. Joy and excitement for life were still real and very present; and those were fueled by the blessing of being a part of a great church. And all of those experiences fueled my wanting to be generous. In particular I remember that one Friday afternoon, Dad did not come home at his usual hour. The routine on Fridays was one I looked forward to. Dad would come home. He had been paid, and off we went, all seven of us piled into the '55 Chevy to Kroger. We would buy our week's groceries and back home. Once home, the weenies and celery were devoured by the three boys (me included), so plans for hot dogs vanished as did whatever Mom used the celery for. LOL. But this one Friday, Dad was late. It soon got dark. And supper time came and went. We lived in a four-plex type of apartment. An old wooden house was made into four apartments. Two of the apartments were empty, and a family lived downstairs. The mom of the family was called Tommie. Tommie came upstairs, knocked and asked my Mom if we were okay. By now the little ones in our family were restless with hunger. Tommie had brought with her "the only thing I have which is this can of Spagehetti-O's, which you can have." Mom accepted that and added about four times the water recommended on the label. And that was our meal. Dad finally arrive after having accepted to work overtime for additional money. The generosity of Tommie, who like the first part of this chapter in 2 Corinthians talks about people in Macedonia like her, " for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part" (v. 2). If Tommie knew how to share from the little she had, so could I.
Paul encourages the people of Corinth as well as all who read this passage, to share, to give, to be generous, remembering the greatest gift ever given was by God. Re-read John 3:16 in this way: For God so loved the world He gave." Re-read what Jesus gave in the above passage. Jesus gave all. He left the riches of Heaven so that we might have life. I love that Paul stresses to give based on what we have, not what we hope/wish/dream we will have; give. Share. Do. Good intentions are foundations if we build on them. What's the old adage, "The road where? is paved with good intentions?"
PRAYER: Awesome and loving God; in the good and the bad, we love You and thank You for all things. For people like dear Tommie, who modeled a life of sharing and giving, let us also follow that, so that we might bless others. We thank You for those churches that bless people and encourage lives that will bless others. Bless them richly we ask; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Give today of yourself to someone in need; not to have them pay you back when it's their turn, but just because you love as God loves you!
Eradio Valverde
PRAYER REQUESTS: Please continue to pray for the family of Doris Koehl, mother of Cheryl Meadows, who passed away yesterday afternoon. For the Gindler family as they prepare to say goodbye to Andy, their son. For all everywhere who mourn, who need healing, and who could be blessed by our generosity. Pray for one another, pray for yourself.
