Let's get to it. Second Corinthians, chapter eight. Paul has been talking to the

Corinthians about all kinds of bad behaviors and stuff that's been going on, a lot of correction

going on, but he's got another one, but this one has a little bit of a new twist on it,

a little different direction, but I might wonder, is this a word really not just to the

Corinthians, but for us today here at 8th the Creek?

2nd Corinthians chapter 8, verse 10.

Paul says there, and herein I give my advice, for this is expedient for you, who have begun before,

not only to do, but also to be forward, or literally willing, a year ago, now therefore,

perform the doing of it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a

performance also out of that which you have. What is Paul saying here? The King James is a little

tongue twister as you read it. And you're kind of thinking, what's he saying? Well, the ESV says,

in this matter

I give my judgment this will benefit you who a year ago started not only to do this work but also a desire to do it

so now finish the doing of it as well so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your

completing it out of what you have. What's going on here? Well, a year earlier, the Corinthians said, hey, we'll help out the church in Jerusalem. We'll give money to the church to help take care of them. And that's one of the things churches get to do. And we do that. We get to, as a church, help people and help other churches that are hurting around the world. That's one of the things we like to do here at Athe Creek. But I'm really not going to have this sermon today really be about the giving part. We'll look at that in depth a little more on Wednesday night. But what I'd like to really look at is what Paul's saying. He says, man, you guys said you were going to do something.

Do it. That's really what Paul's saying. He starts off saying, this is my advice, not a command,

but he's saying it's expedient. The word expedient, you recognize it. Paul uses that word.

Of course, in the King James translation, it's used several times, you know,

the idea of expedience, 1 Corinthians 612. Remember, all things are lawful for me, but not everything's

expedient. What's this word expedient? And if you look it up in the Greek, the idea is not just

beneficial or good for you. It does mean that. But it has more of the idea of beneficial in the long

term. There's long term benefits. That's this word expedient. So what is he saying? He says,

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