Knowing The Word in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, Abundance and Equity

13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

The Corinthians should not suffer so that others can be eased, but that some form of equity is achieved. Brotherly love is a two-way street. It is not just the Christians in Jerusalem receiving from those in Corinth. It is also the Corinthians receiving the gospel message of the Messiah from Jerusalem. Without the Jerusalem church sending forth missionaries, the Corinthians would not know Jesus. Paul quotes Exodus 16:18, the story of manna, to show that God desires equity and will help achieve it.

O God, the father of the forsaken, the help of the weak, the supplier of the needy; you teach us that love towards the race of man is the bond of perfectness and the imitation of your blessed self.

Open and touch our hearts that we may see and do, both for this world and that which is to come, the things that belong to our peace. Strengthen us in the work which we have undertaken; give us wisdom, perseverance, faith and zeal, and in your own time and according to your pleasure prosper the issue; for the love of your Son, Christ Jesus.

Lord Shaftesbury, 1801-1885