But as you abound in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us – see that you abound in this grace also. (9) For you know the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet, for your sakes He became poor, that you  through His poverty might become rich.  (13) For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; (14) but by an equality that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance may supply your lack. – that there may be equality.   (15). As it is written, “He who gathered  much had nothing left over, and he who gathered  little had no lack.”

The apostle Paul wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. Corinth was a “sophisticated”, amoral city when Paul founded the church there. Not surprisingly, there were some who manipulated the early church and caused great distress, factional arguments and doctrinal corruption after Paul moved on with his missionary journey. Unknown actors even derided Paul’s authority and presence.  After a severe letter of correction (lost to history) another visit and another letter (1st Corinthians) addressing doctrinal questions, Titus, Paul’s assistant, came to him from Corinth to reassure him that the issues had been dealt with.  Now in 2nd Corinthians Paul writes to reinforce his authority and prepare the Corinthians for his third visit.

Our verses today concern a collection being raised in the churches Paul founded on his missionary journeys. Jerusalem had been hard hit by famine and Paul had been given a mission by the apostles to raise a collection for the Jewish Christians there. In verse 9 Christ is the perfect pattern of love – He was rich because He was God but took on the form and nature of man and became poor for us.  He was willing to sacrifice all, even a terrible death on a cross, for the salvation of men.  Everything we have is a gift of God and we should live lightly in this world.  This world is a shadow of the eternal heavenly world promised to those who believe in Christ Jesus who became poor for us that we might become rich in eternal life.

Paul then moves to the events of the Jews wandering in the desert where they were divinely supported – manna was gathered by all but no one took more than the Lord prescribed and all shared equally.  Paul’s application here was that none should accumulate in excess when there are necessities of other Christians. A readiness of will is pleasing to God whether one is either rich or poor and we aren’t meant to be reduced to straits so that others might have ease. Remember that we all have different gifts which are distributed seemingly unevenly but we are all equal in the eyes of God.