The Corinthians had heard Titus tell about the difficult, harsh and dangerous conditions faced by the believers in Jerusalem. Also, a famine was on the way because of widespread drought in the region. The church in Corinth felt great compassion for their spiritual siblings, although they had never met them. The Lord moved their hearts and they wanted to help. Practically, it had to be a gift of money which Titus could take back to Paul for onwards transit to Jerusalem.

They gave, and that was good (2 Corinthians 8:6). But not all of them, and they promised to give so much more. However, a year later they had still not fulfilled their pledge. That was not good at all. To make a vow and not keep it, is a serious spiritual problem (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). They needed to repent and then do what they agreed to do in the first place. So Paul reminded them of how they first responded, how they promised to continue, and how they had failed to do so. That was not a cruel blackmail but a simple exhortation so that they could get back on track in their relationship with the Jerusalem Christians, with the apostle and his team, and most importantly, with the Lord.

Paul did not want them to give what they did not have. If their income had fallen, then they should give what they could. It was not so much the amount which mattered, but their willingness to give which the Lord was watching. That was the problem; over the previous year they had become less willing to give. That is why the apostle needed to stir their consciences. Promises by themselves are not enough; they must be fulfilled. God always fulfils His promises and they are all completed in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20), and so the followers of Christ must do the same (Hebrews 10:23).

This is a necessary challenge for most of us. We may think that words are easy, a convenient way to get through difficult circumstances, without realising that God hears every word and will judge us accordingly (Matthew 12:36). That is why we need to be called to repentance, so that we can receive forgiveness and start again to fulfil what we promised. That is true in many areas of life, but our giving reflects much more of our hearts then we may realise. Like the rich man who came to Jesus, it was clear that he had really put his faith in his money and not in God (Mark 10:21-22). Jesus challenged him to sell his possessions and give the money away, then he could follow Christ; but the man refused. If your heart is really for the Lord, giving is all part of the relationship. This is not optional.