The Connection Between Spiritual and Material Blessings - Romans 15

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome - Romans 15:23-33

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

As Paul wraps up his letter to the Romans, he informs them of his desire to see them on his way to Spain.  For Paul, Spain was the end of the known world in his mindset to accomplish the mission Jesus had given him to reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Perhaps Rome could be the base of his operations, as he sought to spread the gospel to the Western civilization as he knew it.  

Guzik says this of Paul's intentions,

 "Paul had these plans; yet things did not work out according to his plans. He did go to Rome, yet not as a missionary on his way to Spain. He went to Rome as a prisoner awaiting trial before Caesar, where he would preach the gospel on a different kind of frontier.

i. God had unexpected frontiers for the gospel in Paul’s life, giving him unexpected access to preach to the emperor of Rome himself.

ii. After his release from the Roman imprisonment at the end of the Book of Acts, we have reason to believe that Paul did in fact make it to Spain and preached the gospel there."

Meanwhile Paul had to stop in Jerusalem to drop the offering that the Philippians and Corinthians had given him for the poor in Jerusalem.  He states that primarily the Gentile believers had given him a gift to bring to the primarily Jewish community in Jerusalem.  As he said to the Corinthians, they should not give out of obligation or guilt but because they were glad to do it.  The desire to give to the church in Jerusalem should be out of gratitude that the gospel made its way to them through them.  It reminds us that there is a connection between our spiritual and material blessings.  All of our blessings come to us from God, but we are called to give back both our spiritual and material blessings for God's use in the body of Christ.  

Note, although the Roman believers were many miles from the Christians in Jerusalem, they still have concern for them because they are brothers and sisters in Christ.  It reminds us how important it is to give to other churches and organizations across the world who spread the gospel in word and deed.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Finally, Paul urgest them to pray for him.  Maybe Paul knew he would need the prayers when he finally does make it to Rome and eventually is put in prison.  Paul's life was never lived in comfort.  As he says he was under pressure both from within and without and also faced his own worry about the churches. 

He says in 2 Corinthians 7:5

"When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside."

So with this in mind Paul knew that he needed much prayer.  Paul didn't just talk about prayer, he knew it worked and he knew he needed it badly.  I often think about when we get to heaven we will see the result of our prayers on earth as they were enacted in heaven.  We will see how much they were needed in the church for protection for evil, wisdom to know God's will, and for the strength and perserverance to get through the many trials we have faced on this earth.

Do you pray for yourself and others who need it?  Do you pray for the whole church that it might be successful in reaching the lost people on this earth who don't yet know Christ?  Do you ask for prayer for yourself, or do you not want to trouble people?  Do you support the church with your material blessings in response to the spiritual blessings you have been given?  

Again, we are not to give under compulsion, but as we are willing, as God wants us to be.  And as we are generous, God promises us that He will continue to increase the ability we have to give even more.  For God "LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER!"