2 Corinthians 8:10-11

Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving.

Does any of this ring a bell with you? It certainly does with me! We begin to do something and we feel very enthusiastic about it, but then other things get in the way. In Corinth, the church had shown a desire to give money to support Paul’s collection for the Christians in Judea, but they then seemed to have forgotten about it. Time had passed and Paul was now eager to remind them of their earlier enthusiasm and to take action.

It is said that the path to hell is paved with good intentions. Anyone can have good intentions, but what matters is that we turn them into action. Another wise saying is that people with good intentions make promises but people with good character keep them. If we are to be effective, we need to ensure that our lives are tuned in to God and that we are continuing to grow in strength and maturity, which will only happen as we spend time with God. Even Jesus himself, who was both a perfect man and the Son of God, needed to spend time with his heavenly Father. Our daily openness to God in prayer will be fundamental to our ability to keep on track with his will.

This is a good moment to think back through the last few months. Perhaps you heard about a charity that desperately needs help, a person who was struggling to make ends meet or an organisation in your church that needs someone to give support. Stop and think for a moment and then ask God whether, like the church in Corinth, this is the time when you need to be turning your good intentions into action.

Question

Is God reminding you of action that you need to take right now?

Prayer

Loving Father, forgive me for those times when I have failed to turn my good intentions into action. In the power of your Spirit, make me stronger so that I can become more effective for you. Amen