Christian Conduct in a Modern World

by Walter A. Boyd (South Africa)

Paper 18

No.5 – THE CONSECRATED SERVANT (Continued)

(B) Paul and the Poor Saints (Romans 15.25-29)

We noted in a previous study that Paul had expressed a desire to visit the saints in Rome, and he expected that this would materialize according to the will of God. Until the present he has been hindered in making the journey to Rome, 15.22, and now in ch.15.25-29, he goes on to explain the nature of that hindrance. He has been genuinely delayed because of the need of "the poor saints at Jerusalem," 15.26. Their deprivation outweighs his desire. The Apostle explains his impending trip to Jerusalem in very instructive terms, in which he gives us an insight into the nature of his help for them and instruction in the practical subject of relief for those in need.

The paragraph (15.25-29) divides as follows;

1. The Special Commission (v25).

2. The Saints’ Contribution (v26).

3. The Gentiles’ Indebtedness (v27).

4. The Servant’s Commitment (v28,29).

1. The Special Commission, (v25). Paul eagerly anticipated meeting the believers in Rome. He expected to enjoy their company, 15.24, and see fruit among them, 1.13, yet there was a pressing need with the saints at Jerusalem. For this consecrated servant of God, the daily burden of the care of all the assemblies, 2Cor.11.28, affected how he lived and served his Master. The Apostle to the Gentiles would have relished the opportunity to preach the gospel in Rome, the metropolis of the Gentile world’s greatest empire. With the eye of an evangelist he could envisage the attentive audiences and the abundant fruit among them. As the special custodian of the mystery doctrines of the New Testament he would thrill at the thought of imparting some spiritual gift to the assemblies already established in the city. Their faith and obedience had spread abroad, 1.8; 16.19, and they would be well able to assimilate the strong meat in the teaching he would give. Many a lesser man would have forgotten the plight of a few poor saints at Jerusalem; after all who would really want to be the "Jerusalem postman?" Surely it would be more profitable to make straight for Rome and fulfil a life-long ambition? Not so with Paul. We have already seen the difference in Paul as a consecrated servant, and others. His big concern is always to do the Master’s will. He does not worship at the shrine of numbers, and as a lowly bondservant he is not affected by status.

(A) Commissioned to visit Jerusalem, "But now I go unto Jerusalem …".

The conjunction "but" highlights the contrast between Paul and many others. In spite of the very real attractions of Rome he is driven in another direction by a sense of duty and service to Christ. The passive form of the expression "now I go," shows that Paul had not taken this service for Jerusalem upon himself - he was under the control of Another. The gives a beautiful balance to his spiritual motivation for the trip. There was a need in Jerusalem and the saints in Macedonia and Achaia had provided to meet that need, and someone must make the 800 miles or so to take their provision to Jerusalem. While Paul’s compulsion was strong enough to cause him to postpone an intended trip to Rome, it was not a compulsion of his own making. This was the service of God and His people.

(B) Commissioned to minister to the saints, "… to minister unto the saints."

The word that Paul used to describe his activity as "ministry," is the general word for deacon service and has the idea of benefiting others. What a dignity this imparts to the trip and the gift. It also has the idea that the undertaking of the journey itself was part of that service. It was not that he was travelling to Jerusalem and would then serve the saints while he was there. The journey itself was a vital ingredient in the service. This ought to encourage us to be diligent in everything we do in the service of Christ: even the more mundane tasks are ennobled with the dignity of service for the Master. This was not a secular duty, like the distribution of charity to the needy. It was a sacred and dignified service, recognized by the Lord. There is a modern counterpart seen in the material and financial assistance sent by assemblies in countries where there is abundance, to saints in other needy parts. Careful note should also be taken of how this service was carried out. The relief was carried by trusted stewards, directly to the saints in need. This can still be done today. It is very unwise for assemblies to send relief to needy saints other than by trusted representatives. The relief was delivered right to the saints, not to a secular relief agency in Jerusalem. The donors maintained their autonomy and the integrity of their gift.

2. The Saints’ Contribution, (v26).

(A) The Recipients. The expression "the poor saints at Jerusalem" indicates their utter destitution. Likely, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were not in such penury, but there was a definite need among the believers. This need was sufficiently grievous to move the hearts of the saints in Macedonia and Achaia when they heard of it.

(B) The Contributors. A casual reading of these verses might make you think that the point of the passage is that Gentiles were giving to Jews, or that the rich were giving to the poor. The emphasis in the passage is neither. The saints in Macedonia and Achaia had been partakers of spiritual things and were sending help in material things. This is more than rich/poor; Jew/Gentile. The point is that what was being done was spiritual in nature. We ought to remember this when we respond to a material need, and give of our substance for the assistance of others — it is a spiritual exercise. Notice, too, that they "were pleased to make a certain contribution …". They had a genuine delight in what they had undertaken to do. How do we give? Is it a delight or a drudgery? A delighted believer will be happy to dig deeply into his resources for the blessing of others. Conversely, one whose pleasure is shallow in this sort of exercise, will always have a shallow pocket!

(C) The Contribution. The phrase "a certain contribution", indicates that there was a specific exercise behind the gift. This was not what happens when a person hears of a need and shrugs his shoulders saying, "well, if you’re stuck come and see me." Exercised saints with burdened hearts responded in a way that helped the needy and glorified the Lord. The word "contribution" is the word translated "fellowship," Acts 2.42, and "communion," 1Cor.10.16. The help sent to Jerusalem was more than the currency of the day; the gift of money was imbued with the bonds of Christian love and spiritual affection. It possessed such a spiritual beauty and dignity that the Apostle was prepared to give himself wholeheartedly to its safe conveyance to Jerusalem.

—to be continued (D.V.)