A Case For Mutuality And Interdependency
2 Corinthians 8
KJV
14+ But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
2 Corinthians 8:14
NIV
[14] At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,
Paul on his fundraising campaign for the brethren in Judaea made this his central theme, the interdependency of the church. He told the brethren at Corinth a well-endowed city of the need to assist the needy brethren in Judaea.
His argument is simple, no condition is permanent; today it is them (sic) tomorrow it will be you. The unfortunate truth is this exhortation has been forgotten, and has been replaced by the majority with selfishness!
Instead of cooperating with each we are rather in competition with one another. Instead of sharing we are hoarding our blessings. Each wants to outshine the other.
The proverbial “scratch my back so I scratch your back” though this has been used in the negative and derogatory sense; is what Paul’s appeal seems to suggest. Scratch my back today so I scratch yours tomorrow!
Though we see around us the truth of this statement yet we are unable to embrace and apply it.
Mutual dependence is a natural law, every creation of God depends on each other to survive. Plants, animals and humans depend on nature’s provisions. Each provides support to the other.
That we need each other to survive is an undeniable truth. To avoid loneliness we make friends to provide us with fellowship! To help us improve our lives we engage the services of teachers or mentors.
“No man is an island” is a poem written by John Donne, in which he stressed the interconnectivity of humanity. Read the entire poem to feel the import.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were:
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were.
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
He is saying to us, no congregation of the Lord’s church is an island it is interconnected, interlinked etc with the rest; its action or inactions therefore impacts positively or negatively on the others.
May we revise our notes on congregational mutuality so that we extend help to each other. Today may be a good time for you, but please time and circumstances change.
Share today with others what you have so when your downturn comes they’ll extend a hand of help to you! This is a law of nature
A thought to share