And [the young Macedonian believers] did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
—2 Corinthians 8:5
As a certified unmanned aircraft system (drone) pilot, I have been learning to fly a small drone for a couple years. At first, I was pretty bad at it. Thankfully, in those early days, I didn’t crash into too many things as my muscles learned how to fly, and my brain learned what the reaction would be for the drone when my thumbs went right, left, forward, backwards, up, and down. One of the most challenging maneuvers is flying when the drone is facing toward you, since all the controls are opposite of the direction of flight. This is the case since the right/left and forward/back are all relative to the drone facing away from you (as if you were a tiny little pilot onboard the drone). So, when the drone is coming toward you, right is left and backwards is forwards. You get the idea. It’s unexpected until you become more skilled in seeing the world from a certain perspective ON the drone.
Paul was blown away by the generosity of the new believers in Macedonia. The Macedonian church was a new one and yet they were generous to give, even though they had a lack of abundance. They gave because Paul had asked them to give what they could, and there were others in need! What Paul wrote to the Corinthians expressed surprise that those who had little were faithful in much, simply because it was God’s will. It was unexpected.
In our world today, there are so many predictable ways that people behave. Politicians (typically) puff themselves up and degrade their opponents. Corporations (typically) focus on the bottom line and will do whatever is needed to cut costs and increase revenue. That’s just the way it works, they say. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we live and move in an upside-down Kingdom. Less is more, first is last, and the weak are strong. It’s all very unexpected, if not for the fact that we are called to completely change our worldly perspective to a Kingdom perspective. When we do that, then what others see is not what we see and not what God sees through us. It makes for some interesting conversations with our kids when we give away enough each month to afford a really nice car or bigger house (or countless other examples). Yet, the Kingdom perspective means that what is right is left, and what is up is down. Don’t be afraid to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit and do exactly what God asks, even when (especially when) the world might think it a little crazy or makes no sense. Pray about it and go for it. Give yourself to the Lord and hang on for the adventure it brings!
~Steve
