and in this matter i give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. so now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. [2 cor 8:10-11]
the corinthians had expressed a willingness to give in the past, but now they are following through with it. at first glance, we might commend them for, “giving beyond their means, of their own accord. [ 2 corinthians 8:3], but… it was with delay.
delayed obedience is still disobedience.
- waiting another year to do full-time missions in ecuador
- pushing off joining the servant leadership institute
- avoiding that difficult conversation
- being too busy to make disciples
- making excuses not to adopt
- not giving as He has called you
in contrast, when, “Jesus said to them, ‘follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men,’ immediately, James and John left their nets and followed him.” [mark 1:17-18]
immediately. immediately, they dropped their nets. they dropped their careers. they dropped their livelihoods. they dropped their passion and dreams. they dropped all they had ever known… to follow Jesus.
~ natalie schmidt