Are You Ready?

When Titus began a collection in Corinth for the saints in Jerusalem who were suffering fiscal hardship from famine, Paul fears the Corinthians may fail to give generously as he had boasted they would (v2). The Corinthians were loose with money, but not necessarily towards the church. 5x in the opening verses Paul uses a form of “readiness” (3 of those being paraskeuazo: to cause something to be ready, to prepare). Christian generosity is marked by a readiness to share…the antithesis of greed. Moreover, one’s reaping and one’s sowing are proportionate (v6) as God - the 1st and greatest Giver - loves cheerful givers (v7).