Unity

DEVOTION

ROMANS

UNITY

Rom 15:23-29

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

NIV

We are in the conclusion of the letter with all the personal notes and salutations. There is evidence here that one area gathering, or church, although they have not been called churches nor even Christians at this point. However one group did take up some kind of offering to send it to those they heard were living with materialistic needs. We do not know for sure how that was all communicated, other than through Paul himself. He must have made it known to the believers in Macedonia and Achaia about the poor believers in Jerusalem. But why were they poor? Did not all the believers sell their possessions and all have everything in common? We read about all the activity of the Church in Jerusalem in acts.

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

NIV

So why then were their poor in Jerusalem? Had the believers already given up on this practice of sharing with one another, having everything in common? Were they now becoming a church where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and need to receive a gift from another region to live? Questions we do not have the answers for. It is not clear what is going on in the church in Jerusalem, however we are sure an offering was taken up by Gentile believers to be given to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. This may be the start of offerings for foreign missions. Can we make any life lessons from this part of the concluding comments of this letter? The early church certainly was not as organized as we are today, we denominational variations with each having their regional and district headquarters that need financial support from the local churches in each region or district to pay all the salaries of staff in those headquarters for all the services they provide. Some have national headquarters and have need of support from the regions or districts. It seems much of our tithe and offerings go to support of other believers, so in that sense we all have everything in common, except we give, and receive. Then we give more to help missionaries to work in foreign lands. Then we give special offerings for either a building program, of repair program of the local church building. Of course much of our tithe provides funds for the local church staff, again for all the services they provide within the local church.  So it would seem we all do have everything in common. When someone is in need, the local church or even the region provides support. Many churches have a benevolent fund set aside for the aid of those in need. We are living in the post-modern era and although we do things a little differently than those early churches, we are doing about the same thing, making sure we all are having enough. Those who make more, give more. Those who make less, give less, and those who cannot provide their own support are provided for. We all belong to each other and help meet the needs of each other is whatever way we can. This is the church at work during Paul’s time and during our time. Let us continue to live in the spirit of unity.