2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NRSV)
Read 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7Now as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you-so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. Verse 8I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. Verse 9For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Verse 10And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something- Verse 11now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. Verse 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has-not according to what one does not have. Verse 13I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between Verse 14your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. Verse 15As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
Devotion
I am honored to spend time with young people in our community. Whether they love sports or science, arts or music, many are driven to excel. They want to get better at their craft and maybe build their lives around it. Yet, often the best coach is not the person with all the knowledge; sometimes the best coach is failure—a bad game, a tobacco violation, getting benched for getting caught with booze, a family hurt that is not getting better—the kids of our communities know something about failure and struggle and pain. Not everybody is a winner, a leader or picked to be part of a group. So what story can help them become more resilient, can help us see that we are not defined by one bad day or choice? Paul reminds us: "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (verse 9). May the story of Jesus reframe this day we are living.
Prayer
Giving God, for this day, for its failures and fears, we claim the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as our strength amidst our weakness. We need you! Amen.