It’s All in Your Mind

We know tJiat Paul was concerned about the poor saints in Jerusalem and therefore he had encouraged many churches to give toward this need. We believe that the Corinthians had promised to take an offering for this need, but for some reason, they dragged their feet in getting it accomplished. Paul used the believers of Macedonia as an example and encouraged the Corinthians to keep their promise. Second Corinthians 8:11 says, ~rJwu,_ ~ pn/JJn,,, llu. douuJ, o/. it; that tu l.lu ,u, UULL a IWlllhun.. lo- w.ill., . w-1.lu, u, mu.tJ, k a~--·" The phrase, "readiness to will," is actually a form of willin9 mind. Paul said the Corinthians had a mental attitude and an intention that was positive. This is translated, "readiness to will.» Each of_ us at some times in our lives have made spiritual decisions with good intentions. We were sincere; we were honest; we were truthful, but we have not or did not cany out that beginning attitude. But Paul said that readiness of will must be performed. Believers sometimes say, "I am waiting for my heart or feeling to move me." Your heart and fueling will never decide. Your heart, technically speaking, cannot decide anything. Your heart gets mixed up emotionally. All your decisions are made by the Holy Spirit through your mind, and it begins with the very phrase we have here, "a readiness to will," an intention, an attitude. The Corinthian believers already had this regarding their giving. But your attiwde is not enough. When you make a promise or a vow, you are obligated to that promise or vow or attitude. We must be careful as Christians that we do not promise things that we will not or do not carry out. If you promise to do something, be sure you do it. You see, the intention ofyour heart may be right, but your mind causes you to carry it out. It is better to say, "'no," than to say, "yes," and not mean it. In fact, failure to carry out a promise will affectyour mind and attitude. Your attitude in spiriwal matters is important, beginning with money. Paul told the Corinthians that they had the right attitude toward giving, but now they must perform. To think something does not accomplish it. To promise something does not accomplish it; you have to perform it. Verse 12 says, "(lo,. i/- l.lu ,u, luJ- k a tDi.1. /i.ng . mi.nd. .." This same thought is translated ready mind in verse nineteen. Simply stated, Paul was saying, "You have made your intentions known, now will you perform it by your willing minds, your ready minds?" Are you aware that your attitude mentally conditions you in regard to your service for the Lord, your teaching and even your attitude at church services, Do you come to church with an intention to come and, second, with a preparation ofyour mind for coming? It is like the little girl we have heard of so often who told her pastor, "I don't love God." The pastor told her that no matter what she was doing in the coming week, she was continually to say, "I love God. I love God." The ned Sunday when he saw her and asked how she was, she said, "I love God." Now, in a homely fashion, that is exactly where we are. The world calls it, "psyching ourselves up," or "pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps." The Holy Spirit calls it, "a willing mind." Whether serving or attending, each of us must say with our mind, "I intend to do or go, and I will participate." In Acts 17 we find another time when the words, "willing mind," are used. The 10 Ii r