Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
“For this has been your custom from the beginning, to do good to all the brethren in various ways, and to send resources to many churches which are in every city, thus refreshing the poverty of the needy, and granting subsidies to the brethren who are in the mines. Through the resources which ye have sent from the beginning, ye Romans, keep up the custom of the Romans handed down by the fathers, which your blessed Bishop Soter has not only preserved, but added to, sending a splendid gift to the saints, and exhorting with blessed words those brethren who go up to Rome, as an affectionate father his children.”
Dionysius of Corinth in Fragments from a letter to the Roman Church (c. 165-175).
Let’s learn from the “custom” of the early church in Rome in the second century today. Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth is writing Soter, Bishop of Rome. He’s alerting the Romans that they remain faithful to follow the generous example of the Romans with hearts full of gratitude.
The custom of the Roman Church was to “do good to all the brethren in various ways.” Let’s parse this. Support flowed between churches. Those in poverty received refreshment. And those forced to work in mines for their faith got support to help them survive. It’s beautiful.
What touches me so deeply today is that about 100 years earlier, the Apostle Paul wrote today’s Scripture urging the church in Corinth to be caring and sharing with the aim of equality. This meant they wanted to be sure that everyone had enough to survive.
It seems the growth of the church then, at least in part, can be linked to their obedient and grateful practice of caring and sharing with each other, the poor, and the persecuted ones. Do you and does your church follow this custom of doing good to all the brethren in various ways?