Minister Life To The Saints

Focus: 2 Corinthians 8:3-4 - KJV

3. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4. Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Reference to the saints is to the believers in Christ. God has called none to suffer but to be partakers of the commonwealth in Christ. Hence, when Christ departed and the Church was being formed, the mind of the saints was to dwell together in communion. Everyone submitted to the center what they had and they from the central collection shared things in common. By so doing, there was a seeming equilibrium and balance amongst the saints. There was no situation of two divergent extremes of poverty and plenty. Rather, they all appeared well cared for in the fold of God. This practice made the Church to be in accord from the outset and God is better served in such.

Apostle Paul imbibed the culture and practice of the early Church. When he formed clusters, he encouraged them every first day of the week (Sunday) to collect offerings as alms to be delivered to the saints in Jerusalem who were in crass need. Through such benevolence from the clusters, the cluster in Jerusalem was to be strengthened. The Church of today appears to have thrown away this culture. Now, there are parishes at great disparity even in the same denomination not to talk of the larger body of Christ, to the end that the one cringes under the extreme yoke of poverty while the other throws finances lavishly on nuances and things that are of no kingdom significance. Even if they are significant, proper moderation would aid the support of the ailing parishes that they may also find their feet, financially with time.

The Lord’s counsel remains that we be benevolent one to another particularly to the members of the same household of faith. All those shenanigans in the form of programs aimed at cheap popularity, serve the kingdom less. Let us rather be our brothers’ keepers like the Lord has demanded of us so that through our collections and alms, ailing parishes and ministries may begin to find their footing and contribute meaningfully to populating the Kingdom of our God. He wants us to know that anyone that knows how to do good and fails to do it, to him it is a sin.

Please pray:

Thank you, father for thus far you have assisted us in your body. Help us O Lord to be contributors to the wellbeing of your ailing saints wherever they are found, in Jesus’ name. Please imbue us with abundance that out of the same we may extend our hands to others for their lifting also, in Jesus’ name. Let every gathering of your saints begin to return to this practice that the body of Christ on earth may be better strengthened dear Lord, in Jesus’ name.

Please share with others. God bless you.