He Hath Dispersed Abroad; He Hath Given To the Poor; His Righteousness Remains Forever - Part 1545

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 11:12)

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain upon the earth." (Hosea 6:3)

Often in the scriptures, apostle Paul would provide insights into his own transitions to the gospel so that we can understand the new testament gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. A perfect example of these are found throughout II Corinthians. In one place, Paul declares himself base among you, but being absent am bold toward you. Indeed, he beseeches us, that he may not be bold when he is present with that confidence, "wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh." (II Corinthians 10:1-2)

In another place, Paul had just finished a teaching on "he that ministers the seed to the sower both minister bread for your food and multiply your seed sown, and [thus] increase the fruits of your righteousness. Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God." (II Corinthians 9:10-11; Isaiah 55:10; Hosea 10:12)

Why does Paul believe this to be important?

"For the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; whiles by the experiment of this ministration, they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all [men]; and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you." (II Corinthians 9:12-15; II Corinthians 8:1)

"But by an equality ..." (II Corinthians 8:14)

We are to let our light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) We are by Jesus Christ (who is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever) to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name. And doing good and forgetting not to communicate our faith, for with such sacrifices, God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:8-16)

Because those who believe know beyond a shadow of a doubt that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. (James 1:17-18)

We see this particular example linked back to the day of Pentecost, when the first 3,000 souls to repent and gladly receive the Word, were water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, thus receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Note that therein, those who pressed into Jesus sold their possessions so that none of them would be without. Not one. (Acts 2:36-47)

In saying this, note that Paul does not mean that other men be eased; and ye be burdened." (II Corinthians 8:13)

Rather, Paul here is giving advice, saying how this is expedient for you, who have begun for you not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. After all, when a certain poor widow threw in two mites, which make a farthing, Jesus called His disciples and said, "Verily I say unto you that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in ALL that she had, even ALL her living." (Mark 12:43-44)

Continuing, Paul writes: "Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality." (II Corinthians 8:11-14)

"As it is written: He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack." (II Corinthians 8:15; Exodus 16:18)

Here is Paul making known the grace of God bestowed to the churches of Macedonia -- "how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality, for to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and beyond [their] power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints .. and this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." (II Corinthians 8:1-5; Mark 12:44; Ephesians 6:6-8)

Yes, herein these stood in the offering plate, first giving their own selves to the Lord. Readiness to will so that the performance comes out of that which we have -- and not according to that he hath not. But the one thing we can all do (without any burden whatsoever) is sing praises and thanksgiving unto our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ.

"Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also." (II Corinthians 8:7)

"And if God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work!" (II Corinthians 9:8)

"That in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you." (I Corinthians 1:5)