Paul's topic here is stewardship...
Illustration
Paul's topic here is stewardship. He is encouraging the Corinthians to give generously to
a special collection for the Jerusalem church. Someone once suggested that hearing about
stewardship is a bit like going to your doctor for a check-up. The doctor pokes, prods,
and presses in various places, all the while asking, "Does this hurt? Does that hurt?" If it
does hurt, and you screech in pain, one of two things has happened. Either the doctor
poked too hard, or, more likely, there's something wrong. The doctor may order more
tests, because that place is not supposed to hurt.
Stewardship, too, is not supposed to hurt. On the contrary, giving to God should be joyful. So, if the topic of stewardship seemed painful in the first-century Corinthians, or seems painful to us today, maybe someone is pushing too hard. Or more likely, there's something wrong in that area of our faith.
Stewardship, too, is not supposed to hurt. On the contrary, giving to God should be joyful. So, if the topic of stewardship seemed painful in the first-century Corinthians, or seems painful to us today, maybe someone is pushing too hard. Or more likely, there's something wrong in that area of our faith.
