For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established. Romans 1:11
A well known televangelist was making a visit to a city in our province, and he made sure everybody knew about it. His people rented the largest stadium in the city, and spent weeks putting up posters and running advertisements in the newspapers and on the radio. As the date for his visit drew near, dozens of teams of volunteers handed out many thousands of invitations throughout the city and the suburbs. During the huge service that was held, announcers made sure the audience knew that the preparations had been expensive, and they urged the people to give generously when the collection plates were passed around. The speaker gave a stirring and interesting message, but it was not any more impressive than the appeals that were made for money. It was easy to see what the campaign was really interested in. How different was the purposed visit by Paul, whose interest was in the spiritual welfare of the Christians in Rome.
One of the things that people who come for the first time to a Gospel meeting find unusual is that there is no collection plate. One reason why we take no money from people who attend is to prevent people from being deluded into thinking they are gaining merit by contributing. Salvation is free, and the opportunity to hear it should always be free as well. But another reason why we should never take any money from unbelievers or the unlearned is to display that our interest in them is not monetary, but spiritual. This was Paul’s interest in the Romans; he wanted to be able to pass on to them a spiritual gift. He wanted to teach them the truths of the Word of God. He wanted to urge them to continue on in their zeal in the Gospel. He wanted to encourage them to continue to trust in the goodness of God amid the dangers and persecutions that surrounded them. He loved them and desired that their spiritual lives would be better than ever.
Paul’s attitude toward the Christians is a good example for us. We should always have a desire for God’s people to be built up in our most holy faith. We should pray for their spiritual growth and preservation. We should speak and act to this end as well. There are times when we do business with the Christians, and when we are involved with them in other efforts and activities. But none of these things should ever interfere with our best efforts to help them spiritually.
Just as those who took an interest in imparting spiritual gifts to us, we should make it a priority to always be as helpful as we can to the Lord’s people -Jim MacIntosh