βI am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have suppliedβ (I Cor. 16:17).
Sad, was it not, that the Corinthian church, undoubtedly the largest of all the churches founded by Paul, had been so ungenerous and insensitive, even to Paulβs personal needs, that he had to labor at tentmaking in order to minister among them. They did not even provide for the Apostleβs meager needs. Thus, sadly, he writes:
βAnd when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myselfβ (II Cor. 11:9).
Those who suppose that men of God should remind believers to live godly lives, to labor for Christ and to witness for Him, but that for some reason they should not remind them of their responsibility to contribute of their means β these should read Paulβs letters to the believers at Corinth and see how much the Apostle has to say about this matter.
It seems that others were always bearing the Corinthiansβ financial responsibilities for them, so that he had to write from Philippi with a touch of reproof, that he was glad for the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus, since: βthat which was lacking on your part they have suppliedβ (I Cor. 16:17).
In many ways the Church of today is like the Corinthian church of Paulβs day. This is surely so where financial stewardship is concerned. Again, it is invariably the faithful few who supply βthat which is lackingβ on the part of the many. These few will be richly rewarded, but it is our desire, as it was Paulβs, that greater numbers of the many may join the few, both to lighten the burden of the few and to help reach the teeming millions of lost and bewildered souls who so sorely need a clear presentation of βthe gospel of the grace of God.β source
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