DETOUR FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS

Romans 15:23-29
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Paul’s Travel Plans

23 But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you. 24 I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.
25 But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. 26 For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. 27 They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. 28 As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. 29 And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.


To quote Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, “It’s not about you.” Rick’s point was that life was all about God.

In this life God has given us, He sometimes requires us to make detours off our path onto the path He needs us to travel. Paul was obviously ready to make the journey to Rome but was compelled to first go back to Jerusalem. He had a gift for the needy there which had been sent by the churches where he had ministered on his missionary travels. With our cars and airplanes, this might not seem like a big deal today but the travel in Paul’s day was absent of all convenience.

When we see someone in need, we too must be obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and ready to make a detour. We make the detour to please God, not to impress man or to receive a blessing. If those come, remember to give God the glory … “It’s not about you.”