|
 In
Phil. 4:12 Paul said he knew how to be full, and to be
hungry; how to abound, and to suffer need.
These are opposite extremes -- conditions poles apart — and
they imply a mid-position of "just enough" where there
is neither an over-supply nor a lick. In fact this level of sufficiency
is the norm, from which abundance or want must be determined. We
thus have the CONDITIONS OF
IN
WANT SUFFICIENCY ABUNDANCE Now, this
mid-position of sufficiency is sufficiency for what?
There must be an answer to this; a limitation; or else there
could be no such thing as "abundance." One
"abounds" when he has more than enough for something
— and the obvious answer is — more than enough to meet his
own need. "Sufficiency" is therefore measured by the
basic requirements of a unit; that which is necessary for
self-maintenance. As respects the biological needs of an
organism "in the fasting and resting state, when it uses
just enough energy to maintain vital cellular activity,
respiration, and circulation" this is called basal
metabolism. Technical, but graphic.
An
"independent" unit is NOT DEPENDENT upon any other
unit for its existence and functioning. As the dictionary says,
it is "self-sufficient." "Having a competency;
not dependent for support or supplies; not subordinate; etc.,
etc." All of these conditions are measured on the basis
of self-maintenance. How ridiculous it would be to say one
was "in want" because he couldn't supply world needs.
Want is measured against sufficiency.
A
man comes to you with a tale of woe.
| |
He says he is "in
want" or need. This calls for "alms" on your part — if
you believe his plea to be valid. If he lacks food, clothing,
shelter — or other necessities for self-maintenance you judge
him "in need." But if he has more than enough to care
for his responsibilities in such matters, you do not consider
him a proper recipient for "alms." The principle is so
well known that I feel a bit foolish for giving it this much
space.
But
churches also have "abundance" or are "in
want," as the members of a church (who supply the
collective treasury) are in want or abound. (See 2 Cor. 8:14;
Rom. 15:25-f.; 1 Cor. 16:13). No less so than in our first
illustration, this too implies that the local church may have a
sufficiency, and that its want or abundance must be determined
by measurement from that. An independent church is NOT DEPENDENT
upon others for oversight, support or supplies, etc. It
"has a competency" to manage its own affairs and
supply all support necessary for its functions. It becomes a
legitimate subject for "alms" only when it lacks the
ability to meet basic needs (those necessary for
self-maintenance). How could it be otherwise?
Judgments
may differ as to the condition of the man asking alms, or the
church asking alms; but we can be one in our understanding of
the principle. An individual, or a church, that has become
dependent (unable to meet basic needs for self-maintenance) can
be legitimately supplied with alms, to the point of restoring
independency (self-sufficiency), and no further.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
