8:1 Moreover, brethren,
we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of
Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of
their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their
liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according
to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they
were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we
would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the
saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave
themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of
God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also
complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in
everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your
love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
The grace of self-sacrificing generosity - do we possess it?
Notice what the grace of God has produced in the Corinthian church already:
faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, and love. Paul is asking for an
encouraging a new manifestation of grace - that they would choose to share/give
generously.
He continues to explains where this generosity should come
from:
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the
sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 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.
Paul has shared that other churches throughout Macedonia have
already discovered the grace of giving. Note that he is not commanding them to
give. He is encouraging them to look to the example of Jesus. To give from obligation
is not generous. That kind of giving will eventually produce bitterness. When
the children of Israel were asked to donate materials to build the Sanctuary,
God asked only to give from a willing heart. There was no forced giving. There
were no guilt trips. There was no coercion.
To give unwillingly is no benefit to anyone. It is hurtful to
the recipient and will only bring resentment to the giver. True giving is a
byproduct of grace. It is another manifestation of what happens to the heart
that is touched with the ever increasing scope of what Jesus did, is doing, and
will do for us. If you have not yet received this grace of self-sacrificing
generosity don't attempt to produce it. Instead look again at what Jesus has
given for you. Heaven came down while all the comforts and glory of heaven
remained behind. Born to poor parents, laid in a feed trough for a crib, His
life was anything but affluent. Had He been honoured with the best this world
has to offer it still would have been an immeasurable step down. Why did He do
it? Love.
May the grace of giving for the benefit of helping others
become a grace we receive in ever increasing measure.
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