Over the course of the summer I've been preaching through the book of II Corinthians which happens to be my favorite book of the Bible. Much of the reason why I like this book is that provides us an inside look at the Apostle Paul's heart. But another important reason why I like the book is that it reveals what biblical leadership looks like.
Over the last two weeks we've been covering chapters 8 & 9. These chapters concern Paul's efforts to collect funds among the Gentile churches to relieve the suffering of their Jewish brethren in Jerusalem due to a famine in the land. As Paul carefully brings up this issue -- something they gladly said they would do one year earlier -- he reminds the Corinthians of God's lavish spending to procure salvation for them: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (II Corinthians 8:9).
The theology of this verse is staggering: Christ had everything he could've possibly needed or wanted in heaven. Yet he left all that behind along with his glory and took the form of a servant (Philippians 2) to save us from our sins. He who was rich...became poor. Why? For our sake. We who were impoverished have been enriched by His perfect life, His sacrificial death, His atonement for sin, His resurrection, and His ascension into heaven. Indeed, our sins were imputed to him so that we might be clothed with the robes of His righteousness.
So when Paul reminds the Corinthians about giving he doesn't talk about percentages or lump sums. He simply points to Christ as evidence of how much God gave to save us from our sins (100%) and asks us to give generously, with a heart of gratitude.
A Christmas hymn captures the mystery of it all: Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor (#230 in the Trinity Hymnal).
He who was rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor;
thrones for a manger didst surrender,
sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
all for love's sake becamest man;
stooping so low, but sinners raising,
heav'nward by thine eternal plan.
Thou who are God beyond all praising,
all for love's sake, becamest man.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship thee,
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship thee.
You can listen to a MIDI file here
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