A Ready Mind
Notes
Transcript
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.68 προθυμία, ας
25.68 προθυμία, ας f: eagerness to engage in some activity or event—‘eagerness, desire.’ πρὸς τὴν αὐτοῦ τοῦ κυρίου δόξαν καὶ προθυμίαν ἡμῶν ‘for the sake of the glory of the Lord himself and for the sake of showing our desire (to help)’ 2 Cor 8:19; οἵτινες ἐδέξαντο τὸν λόγον μετὰ πάσης προθυμίας ‘who received the message with all eagerness’ Ac 17:11. A phrase such as ‘with all eagerness’ must often be expressed as a clause, for example, ‘and were very eager.’
The Ready Mind of the Bereans
The Ready Mind of the Bereans
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
They were “eager” to engage in the study of God’s word!
They didn’t just take the preacher’s word for it.
They were “eager” to hear the message AND they were “eager” to study it and confirm it by the inspired Scriptures.
When we have this kind of “ready mind” we will be the diligent students of God’s word that we’re supposed to be (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15).
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The Ready Mind of the Macedonians
The Ready Mind of the Macedonians
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
Paul used them as an example of the “ready mind” the Corinthians should have for the contribution (2 Cor. 8:8).
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
They didn’t just desire it, they were eager to actually do it!
The Corinthians were exhorted to have the same “ready mind” (2 Cor. 8:10-12).
10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
It isn’t enough to just “desire” faithfulness, we must “complete” it - i.e. actually do it!
A “ready mind” is both the desire for it and the eagerness to actually do it.
The Ready Mind of Christ
The Ready Mind of Christ
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Ready Mind of the Corinthians
The Ready Mind of the Corinthians
1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.
Paul knew that they had a desire to aid in the work of benevolence for Jerusalem.
But that desire would be worthless without the actual completion of the act.
The desire they expressed would be shown to be a genuine desire when they followed through with it!
Sometimes people talk a good game but there isn’t much play in them when they actually hit the field.
The genuineness of a ready mind is in the doing!