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I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. – 2 Corinthians 8:8, NIV
As a child growing up in the sixties, one of my vivid memories has to do with watching our black and white TV and seeing the TV program interrupted, followed by a strange symbol that looked like a squared-off bullseye. A voice would come over the TV that said these words: “This is a test. This is only a test." And then it would warn of the loud tone that would sound for the next sixty seconds. At the end was another message about what would have happened if this were not a test. But those words, “This is a test. . . .this is only a test,” still stick with me today.
On some level, I think that is what Paul is saying in the words above to those members of the church at Corinth. If you were here last Sunday, you know we began our “Give, Go, Live – Again!” Stewardship Season by talking about Paul’s letter. Paul is writing to the Corinthians, asking them to take up a special offering for the poorer Christians in the Jerusalem church. He has told them about the churches in Macedonia who have undergone their own tests or trials. Yet, in spite of their own poverty, they have “begged” Paul to be able to give to those in need.
Paul is continuing that thought as he invites the Christians in Corinth to do the same. And in looking at the opportunity, Paul says to them in essence, “This is a test.” But Paul does not add the phrase, “This is only a test.” For Paul, this test is not a “practice run” – it is the real thing! This test is actually a way to demonstrate the genuineness of the Corinthians’ love for God and their faith in Christ. If our financial giving to God’s work were a test indicating our love for God, what would it say? May God give us the grace to show the sincerity of our love through our giving!
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