God First, Then The Minister

Focus: 2 Corinthians 8:5 - KJV

5. 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.

2 Corinthians 8:1-5

When we direct our acts towards God first, our allegiance to men, particularly the ministers of the Gospel, will be driven by our commitment to God and be done in absolute love. Acts propelled based on our feelings towards man may not be completely pleasing unto God as we may have some reservation or the other towards the person concerned and thereby fall short of the extent of love God expects to flow from us to the same person. However, since as the children of God we are expected to love God and obey His commands, if we deal with the minister based on our love of God, then will both the Lord and the minister be pleased with our actions.

The Church in Macedonia received the commendation of Paul, the minister of the Gospel, for their activities towards himself and his other colleagues in the ministry in that, despite the paucity of their resources which the minister acknowledged, they were rich in liberality towards the ministers because they were not first considering the ministers, but God whom they represented to the Church. Many in the Church today are disgruntled and unwilling to spill a dime of theirs for the minister because they assume it is wrong. Meanwhile, if, like the Church in Macedonia, they consider their deeds to be first unto God, the personality of the minister(s) would not be material in what they do. This is not to say it is commendable to give resources to charlatans who use the Gospel for their bellies and not for the purpose of God. If all things are done first to God, then it will be easy to leave the minister unto God to deal with.

Hence, as believers, we are to emulate the actions of the Church in Macedonia and desist from being judgmental of the ministers of this day. A refusal to support the works of the minister is a way of abdicating duty towards God. Invariably, if we love God and recognize that all things proceed from Him, then it will not be difficult to let go of what we have for His purpose even though we are releasing it to the use of the minister.

SOLUTION: Your benevolence should be directed first unto God. Although you do not see God but claim to love Him, if you cannot show love to the minister whom you see, it may be judged as untrue that you love God. Do all as unto the Lord, first.

Please pray:

·      Give thanks to God for first loving you so that you also now love Him

·      Ask God to please forgive you for every act of yours done not first unto God thereby falling short of love

·      Pray that the Lord will take away every negative thought from your heart that is not allowing you to show love adequately

·      Ask God to make His Church as benevolent as He would appreciate

·      Make a request for your daily bread from the Lord for today

If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.