Fair and Equitable

At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may be also become available for our need, so there may be equality. As it has been written:

The person who gathered much did not have too much,

And the person who gathered little did not have too little. 2 Cor 8:14,15

The scripture alluded to by Paul comes from Ex 16:18. It is talking about when the manna fell and the Israelites went out to gather their first harvest. The Israelites were told by Moses to each gather two quarts. There was to be a fair rationing amongst the people. Paul is using this reference to highlight that there is not a need for the Corinthians to hoard but instead share what they did not need themselves.

Our problem today is we have a constant stream of images in the media from companies  wanting us to buy. The advertising tells us we 'need' their product. This constant being sold to, tells us we have needs we do not have and robs us of our surplus and giving potential.

We actually need to guard our hearts and minds from such worldly lusts and passions and constantly seek the Lord for His guidance on what we actually do need. (Food, clothing and shelter). The funny thing is we are being told we need more of all of those three things than we actually do need.

Yesterday I as having lunch with friends and we got to talking about our parents dying and leaving us so much rubbish to clear out. We then looked at ourselves and talked about what we were doing to our children by accumulating all our junk, because that's what most of it is.

In nations suffering civil war and persecution the people flee with the barest of possessions, this would test us all I am sure. I know national disasters, such as the bush fires were are currently experiencing cause many to realise what is actually worth saving and what they can live without.