2 Cor 7-10

Scripture - 2 Corinthians 9:10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

Observation - Paul is addressing the giver in this chapter. he is speaking to the Corinthians, who are a very advanced and modern society, and have prepared to help his missionary efforts. The tenor of the passages before and after this describe a people that know they should give but are having a hard time releasing it. Paul encourages them to be cheerful in giving and that once the seed is sown God will multiply it for them. I love what verse 10 says that God multiplies the seed you have sown and increases the fruit. God only multiplies seed that is sown. Seed that has left your hand and been placed in God's harvest field.

Application - Economic hardship is hitting many people these days. But as the people of God we must continue to sow seed, both financially and spiritually. God will multiply the seed that has left our hand and been placed in His. God will increase not only the seed, but the fruit of righteousness which if you remember is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruit will increase by the sowing of the seed.

Prayer - Father let us continually look for places to sow seed.

Ps 122; 1 Cor 9-11

Scripture - 1 Cor 9:8-12 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

Observation -It is probably that some in Corinth were debating his Apostleship and his right to receive materially for the work that he was doing. Paul goes on a rant here and begins to not only confirm his apostleship but the necessity that the man of God be taken care of. He explains that a man that plows should plow in hopes of bringing in a harvest. He should not plow, not expecting to reap anything. I believe that Paul connects the work to spiritual deposit into the lives of the people and it is not immoral or immaterial to expect to receive care and material blessings for that work. He compares the work of the man of God to the work of an ox. He explains that God cares much more for man than the ox but yet gives food to both.

Application - I believe that some shifting of expectations needs to happen. It is time to start hoping for the harvest from the labor. The interesting thing is that in agriculture there are seasons. Seasons for plowing, seasons for planting, seasons for caring, seasons for reaping. Too often we only focus on the plowing and maybe the planting - but now its time to expect the harvest. Paul tells us that we can expect to gain the harvest and that the harvest is the real focus. Spiritually or materially God wants to bless those who plow.

Prayer - Father open my eyes to the reaping. I get the sowing and the plowing, now teach me to reap.

Job 38; 1 Cor 4-6

Scripture - 1 Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. do you no know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Observation - 1 Corinthians writings contain very direct instruction for living. While the compassion of the Apostle can be seen, he is very direct in dealing with sin and sinful living. In the previous verses to this passage Paul is dealing with gross sexual immorality and not only saying not to do it, but instructing the disciples and believers not to even talk about it as if it is ok. He says your glorying is not good. In other words "Your innocent acceptance of the actions by another is not good".

Application - It seems like the lines between sin and purity are becoming more and more blurred. Paul cautioned that we should not even eat dinner with a sexually immoral person. His instructions were harsh, in fact he explained them in the last few verses of the chapter. Paul was cautioning the church not to make light of the sin, not to accept the sin, to to watch others engaged in the sin. Too often we blur the line - we may not be engaged in sexual immorality but we don't mind watching it. We may not be doing it but we celebrate it as if we do. The line needs to be clear.

Prayer - Father help me to understand how to offer a hand of compassion but keep the lines clear. I know that radical extreme views are the concern, but God help me to continue to advocate pure, holy living without isolating those you love.