“Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.”

Businesses run on budgets. Budgets are established on a periodic basis to ensure that each department or business unit earns and spends against targets, forecasts, and ultimately expectations. Seldom does one ever say that they have been afforded a larger spending budget than what was assigned. Just the same, seldom do business units sign up for larger revenue targets than the expectations that are given to them. In many ways, both ends of limits are being tested and if either of them is not aggressive enough, then we end up with expectations, and no more, being achieved. This is not all bad, but it does beg the question as to what has to be done to allow for parts of an organization to stretch themselves and achieve perhaps above and beyond even what they think is capable? What if we worked in organizations where we could actually self-manage our budgets so that when we felt like another department or business unit was more worthy of the dollars, that we could voluntarily shift our dollars over to them and share in their success? If you are a financial person reading this, you probably are already ready to close the page as you know this is just outlandish thinking. No one gives up their budgets! Why would they? What if this level of sharing is what we are supposed to be doing? What if we are to be so sensitive to the needs of others that we are to give to those who need it more than we do, and then we are to sit back and wait as we know that goodwill and giving will come back to us?

While Paul was not speaking to a company, he was speaking to an organization of people when he said; ” Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.” Later, things will become equal, he says. That is the message that I hear in this verse. Yes, we are to give. Yes we are to put others ahead of ourselves. Yes we are to not be greedy, but also yes, we are to find equality in what we do. And there is no better way to find equality than sharing a budget, or sharing the giving towards those who need it and replacing our own wants with the needs of others. The principle, for me, far outweighs the literal meaning. God is calling us to watch out for the those who have less. He is asking us to sacrifice when we can for others. He is promising that in the end it will all equal out. What great messages for us to hear in one tiny verse. Today, as you think about where you can share, where you can ensure that you are doing your part to further equality, think about why you are doing this and give God the praise for being a God who wants to see all succeed! For in your times of need and trouble, He will ensure that there is someone who is more fortunate who will provide some sharing of their plan towards you.

Reference: 2 Corinthians 8:14 (New Living Testament)