Overcoming Circumstances to Excel
Don’t Let Circumstances Trip You Up
In the second part of our “Holding Nothing Back” series, we reflect on how circumstances can hold us back from excelling, drawing lessons from 2 Corinthians 8:1-7. Paul urges the Corinthian churches not to let their circumstances trip them up. It’s true, isn’t it? We often think we have it harder than others and let our circumstances rob us of opportunities to excel.
Paul wanted the Corinthians to shift their focus away from introspection and self-examination, which can sometimes lead to complacency. In his first letter, Paul had been hard on them, pointing out moral failings. By his second letter, while things had improved, the church had become too inwardly focused to see its blind spots. Paul pointed them to the Macedonian churches, which had endured severe trials and extreme poverty, yet remained full of joy and rich in generosity.
Difficult circumstances can move us into self-preservation mode, causing us to play it safe. We might hold back on what God wants us to let go of. One of the biggest obstacles in our lives can be our attitude towards money. The love of money, as 1 Timothy 6:9-10 warns, is a root of all kinds of evil. It can lead us away from faith and into many griefs.
The enemy can use our circumstances to pivot us from trusting God to trusting money. We must cut out this rot. The Macedonian churches, despite their financial struggles, excelled in generosity. Paul asked the Corinthians why they were holding back when their circumstances weren’t as dire.
Reflect on your own life. Are you like the Corinthians, tripped up by circumstances, especially in the area of generosity? Or are you like the Macedonians, overcoming severe trials and extreme poverty to excel in every area of life?
Let’s follow Paul’s advice: don’t let circumstances trip you up. Look beyond your immediate situation and strive to excel in generosity and all other areas of your life.
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