“Exaction”
“Exaction”
Blessings folk!
The Body of Christ in the area of Corinth had promised to help support the saints in Jerusalem.
Read some more about what Paul says about this…give close heed to principles…
2 Co 9:1-5
Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,
for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
Paul wanted to help them be ready with the gift.
He did not want them to wait until the last minute.
It is much easier to save $10 a month than to collect $120 at the end of the year. 
So, the principles for giving?
- help others, beginning with the household of faith (we will see that later)
- honor a commitment…with zeal
- prepare in advance
- set aside regularly in preparation
- give willingly
- encourage and exhort OneAnother
- refuse to participate in exaction…either mandating or responding to a mandate…such usually borders on witchcraft
Let us give in the freedom and liberty of the Lord.