Finishing what we started

"And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have" (2 Cor. 8:10-12).

Have you ever had difficulties finishing what you started? The Corinthians seemed to be having this problem. They expressed a desire to give to the collection for needy believers, but for some reason they did not follow through. It appears that they lost their motivation. In reminding them to finish what they started, Paul writes, "For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have." This exhortation by Paul to give according to their means, not above it, was intended to encouraged them to finish what they started. If we are going to finish what we felt led of God to begin, we do have to make it a priority, we do have to have a plan and we do have to be discipline. But sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. Maybe we can't give all the time or money we intended to give. But that doesn't mean that we should just give up on it entirely. God knows your heart. Do the best you can with what God has given you. He'll make up the difference.