Written ~ 09-04-2024
Read 2 Corinthians Chapter Eight
2 Corinthians 8
In chapter eight, Paul is encouraging the believers in Corinth to begin collecting money for the support of the poor living in Jerusalem. The Macedonian churches which included those at Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea, had been collecting money for quite some time. In their extreme poverty and the pressure of persecution, they gave freely and generously. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 it says, 1 “Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 3 When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 4 And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.” Paul gives the example of the Galatian collection procedure and suggests the Corinthians do the same. So, here in 2 Corinthians 8, Paul is basically following up with their plans to collect money for the poor. This time he is using the churches in Macedonia as examples of generosity.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5…
1 “Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”
Our example of generosity is found in Jesus. His love for the poor, sick and downtrodden is found within every page of the Gospels. Our attitude should be the same. When Paul mentions that the Macedonian churches are “filled with abundant joy, which is overflowed in rich generosity,” it shows they have taken their eyes off of their own situations and placed them solely on the Lord. It says also in verse 8:5 that “…their first action was to give themselves to the Lord…” If ever you and I begin to think we have nothing to give to the poor, to the needy, to the downtrodden… then we must first look to the Lord and serve Him. These Macedonian churches gave everything they could… with joy. If they couldn’t give money or anything of monetary value, they gave themselves in service to the Lord. They served the poor, they helped the needy, they comforted the downtrodden. Then when they could give from their meager belongings, they did and with abundant joy. Think about it… how many of us are guilty of seeing only our own needs or our own wants as more important than those who are truly struggling to make ends meet day in and day out.
2 Corinthians 8:8…
8 “I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.”
As believers, what is our wealth? The knowledge of Jesus the Messiah. How should we give? Generously, by the God given purpose within our hearts. That might look different in everyone, but we are called to serve the Lord by any means possible.
Look what Jesus said in the Book of Matthew…
Matthew 25:42-45…
42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?’
45 “And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’
If you don’t think you have the capacity to help another person, looking to the Lord first will give you all the confidence you need to do as He asks. There is always going to be opportunity to help those less fortunate than you, we need to keep our eyes open for those opportunities.
When Christ Jesus came to earth, He shed His Heavenly riches to become poor. Jesus lived in poverty to show us how to be generous. Jesus never gave out of earthly wealth; He gave from within. His joy overflowed by seeing the needs of people being met through the basics of life… food, water, shelter, clothing. He never wanted us to hold onto our “earthly riches” for a “rainy day.” God wants us to share our wealth and wisdom. This is not so you wind up becoming impoverished, and it is not to make someone else wealthy, we are to give so everyone has an equal share.
2 Corinthians 8:12b-14…
12b “…And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.”
In Paul’s encouragement, he included the story of the Israelites and how their needs were met through the provision of God. Each morning He provided manna, each evening He provided quail.
Exodus 16:11-12…
11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”
Exodus 16:17-18…
17 “So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.”
What this means to me is that God will provide in whatever circumstances we are in. That’s why we are to give in our plenty and give in our need. God will meet us right where are, He will provide. It may take us letting go of the circumstances that overwhelm our hearts and look to Jesus alone. We may think we have nothing to give. But a kind word, a prayer for someone who is hurting, a cup of water for someone who is thirsty, these are only a few ways to give generously.
If, in our hearts we think holding onto all of our money and only sparing a few coins to share with others is what God has in mind, we have completely missed the point of being generous.
Luke 16:13…
13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
After Paul has given these believers some encouragement when it comes to their giving, he tells them he is sending Titus. Titus will go back to the Corinthian church and see if they have done what they said they would do.
2 Corinthians 8:6-7, 10-11a…
6 “So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways — in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love for us — I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11a Now you should finish what you started.”
Let the Lord speak to your heart today. What kind of giving is He asking you to do? Are you having difficulty letting go of your “earthly riches” to help the needy? Do you miss opportunities to help because you are too wrapped up in your own desires?
My prayer is that I will have the heart of generosity. When I don’t feel I’m able to do much, it is in my willingness to help that the Lord can then multiply what I do give.
Pray about this yourselves!
~AMEN~