I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Corinthians 9-13

I skipped over Paul’s comments about giving to aid those in need in yesterday’s passage and I do not want to do that again today.  In yesterday’s passage Paul wrote about the importance of setting aside the money to be given systematically rather than trying to come up with the whole amount one intends to give all at once.  In today’s passage he writes about giving joyfully, not from a sense of obligation.  We should give to those in need because we are grateful for what God has done for us.  Between yesterday’s and today’s passage Paul lays out a great guideline for giving.  We should not give more than we can afford, we should not give so much that we suffer hardship as a result.  On the other hand, we should not refrain from giving because we are afraid we might need the money for some unknown expense down the road.  God will provide for our needs, so we should not fear unexpected expenses.  The more we give, the more we will be blessed.  When Paul says that he is not speaking of material blessings, although sometimes God gives greater material prosperity to those who give generously.  If the latter is the case, it usually means that God will be giving them even more opportunity to give to those in need.

When Paul defends his authority to speak on behalf of Christ and of God, he makes the argument that he is no less than those whose preaching he disagrees with.  He states that his authority builds up those over whom he has authority rather than tear them down.  In doing so, Paul echoes Jesus’ teachings about leaders being servants.  So, authority in the Church comes from building up and strengthening others, not from making them dependent on the one with authority.  Authority does not come from being superior to others, in which case authority would be enhanced by weakening those over whom one has authority.  Rather authority comes from making others stronger and more capable.  In addition, elsewhere Paul exhorts us not to think more highly of ourselves than of others, here he reminds us not to think ourselves less than them either.  True leaders are those who help us recognize our worth without either holding themselves as better than we are or allowing us to make them feel small.