2 Corinthians 12
July 22, 2022
“Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.” (v14-15)
Some leaders love possessions and use people. Paul used possessions and loved people. As a way of modeling that to the Corinthians, he refused to accept their financial support. He accepted financial support from lots of other churches, but not Corinth. Would it have been legitimate to ask them for support, since he was a minister of the gospel? Absolutely (see 1 Cor 9:14). But because Paul was concerned to prove that his love was for them (and not their money), he never asked them for it. His only financial request of them was for the collection for the poor (2 Cor 8-9), so that they might know that Paul wanted them more than their money (v14).
Lord Jesus, I praise You for being the Ultimate Model of self-giving love. Before we could (or would) give anything to You - You gave Yourself to us, even shedding Your blood. Though Your Word talks much about us giving our money as an expression of our trust and worship - it’s always to be done in response to You first “expending Yourself” (v15) for us. Thank You for wanting me more than my money. Grow in me this same heart of loving people and using possessions - and never the other way around.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
