Travel Plans

1 Corinthians 16:5-11

Paul is sending the church at Corinth a letter and part of it is his travel plans.  He wants to spend some time with them not a short visit but maybe the whole winter and his purpose in doing so were to be refreshed and to encourage them in how to live the Christ life.  A big part of that is teaching them about how to be part of something bigger than them, by helping him on his journey.  We find in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 what Paul is hoping they learn from his visit; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 

As we look deeper into being part of something bigger than ourselves, we might look at what the apostle Paul shared with the church at Philippi in Philippians 4:15-17, “And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you send a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”

Often, one who is in the support role and not on the front line, not where the ministry is taking place finds themselves wondering why is that happening, or why did they say to do that, if I were there I would do otherwise.  And it is a simple answer, you are not there and do not understand fully what is happening or why that decision was made.  This is why one on the front line needs to share their reasoning for the decision being made with others, as did Paul in this letter.  “For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” (1 Corinthians 16:7-9)

Paul is also informing the Corinthians that the enemies of the cross are many and they are putting up a roadblock to harm him and his message, and it is clear he is asking them to be in prayer for his plans and ministry.  He also is telling them a much younger man by the name of Timothy is coming to see them and they are to treat him with respect for he shares in the ministry to the saints.

What a message for a small church that God has sent a young minister to serve in.  Way too often the small church has no vision, I’ve watch two of these churches in recent years, they never grew in numbers or in ministry to those in their area and in both cases the area was exploding in growth, one wonders why are they taking up space, do they have a mission or have they become a club?  Clubs are a tough place for a young man full of vision and a desire to see the dead come to life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice