Generous giving
8
📚Now, brethren, we inform you of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia 📖,8:1 This chapter and the next are concerning a collection for believers in Jerusalem who were poor and in great need. See 1 Cor 16:1-4. But in writing of that local matter Paul gives us all some beautiful principles concerning giving in general.⚜
2 📚so that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the riches of their generosity. 3 📚For I bear them witness that according to their ability, indeed, even beyond their ability, on their own they were willing to give, 4 📚pleading with us earnestly that we would accept their gift and participation in the ministry to the saints. 5 📚And this they did, not as we expected, but first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God.
8:1-5 The churches in Macedonia (which included those in Philippi and Thessalonica) wonderfully displayed the grace of giving – this is the “grace” that God had given those churches (v 1). Believers there were very poor and faced severe persecution. But in spite of all that, they gave a contribution. They gave because of “the abundance of their joy”. Paul had not urged them to give. They earnestly pleaded with him to be allowed to give. They knew that giving to Christ and to Christ’s people was a “privilege” and not a painful duty.
When all the churches and believers in this country and in the world come to understand this truth and act according to it what a blessing there will be in the churches and in the land and in the world.⚜
8:5 They had far exceeded Paul’s expectations. They not only gave money but, more importantly, gave themselves completely to the Lord and for any work that the Lord’s servants might ask them to do. They were glad to give to God all they were and all they had. Compare Rom 12:1-2.⚜
Request that Corinth follow that example
6 📚So we urged Titus, that since he had already made a beginning, so he should also bring to completion 📖 this same act of grace among you.
8:6 Titus had been to Corinth (2 Cor 7:6). Now Paul plans to send him again (vs 16-18).⚜
7 📚Therefore, just as you have an abundance in everything, in faith, and speaking, and knowledge, and in complete diligence, and in your love for us, see that you have an abundance of this grace also. 8 📚I am speaking, not by way of commandment 📖, but because of the earnestness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
The example of Christ
9 📚For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich 📖, yet for your sakes he became poor 📖, that you through his poverty might become rich.
8:9 The Lord Jesus had the grace of giving in full measure. In love He gave all He had. And He is an example to all believers.⚜
Paul’s advice
10 📚And in this regard I give my advice. This is best for you: You were the first to prepare to do this service and also to have the desire, and this was a year ago; 11 📚now, therefore, carry out the doing of it, so that as there was a readiness to desire, so there may be a completion also, out of what you have. 12 📚For if there is first a willing mind, the gift is acceptable 📖 according to what a man has, and not according to what he does not have.
8:11-12 Giving should be in proportion to what one has (1 Cor 16:2). The poor cannot give much, the rich should not give little. ⚜
13 📚For I do not mean that others should be relieved and you burdened, 14 📚but that there might be an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply what they need, so that some day their abundance may also supply what you need, that there may be equality. 15 📚As it is written, He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.
8:13-15 The key word here is “equality”. There should be mutual love between believers, an eagerness to share when some are in need. Compare Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35. See also 1 John 3:16-18. Again the Lord Jesus is the greatest example of this. He shares all He has with believers. Why should not believers share all they have with Him and with one another? Since they are all one in Christ why should some of them be exceedingly rich and others be exceedingly poor? Why should some of them almost throw their money away on needless luxuries while others of them are destitute?
When the people of Israel were in the desert God arranged things so there would be equality (v 15; Ex 16:18). God now gives good things to believers so that all might have enough – not that some might enjoy all the good (and all the expensive) things of life while others starve. But there is no command in these matters. It is a matter of love. Giving should not be forced. A man’s property is his own, and he can give it or keep as much as he likes. But if he keeps most and gives little, there will be great loss to himself and suffering to others whom he might have helped if he were more generous.⚜
Paul sends Titus to Corinth
16 📚But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus. 17 📚For he not only accepted our exhortation, but being very earnest, he is going to you of his own accord. 18 📚And we are sending with him the brother 📖 who is praised throughout all the churches for his service in the gospel. 19 📚And not only this, but he was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gracious gift, which we administer for the glory of the Lord himself, and to show your eagerness to help. 20 📚We are arranging things so that no one will blame us for the way this large gift is administered by us, 21 📚preparing matters with integrity, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
8:20-21 See 2 Cor 12:16-18; 1 Cor 16:3. Here is a very wise example of how funds given for God’s work should be handled. Christians now should take the same pains as Paul to do what is right and to let others see that it is so. They should remember too that whether or not men see what they do, the Lord sees – Heb 4:13.⚜
22 📚And we are sending with them our brother, whose diligence we have often proved in many things, but now much more diligent because of the great confidence I have in you. 23 📚If anyone enquires about Titus: He is my partner and fellow worker for you. Or if anyone asks about our brethren: They are the messengers of the churches, and an honour to Christ 📖. 24 📚Therefore show them, in the presence of the churches, the proof of your love 📖, and of our boasting about you 📖.