2 Corinthians 8:1-7 – Be generous in giving

In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul touched on a very sensitive issue: money. This is such a tricky subject because money is what we use often used as a yardstick to measure a person’s worth, success, power, security and status.     

When Paul heard about the generosity of the Corinthians from Titus, it sparked off his appeal by recounting to them about the generosity of the Macedonians. At that point, there were at least three communities of Christians in Macedonia. They were Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Despite their hardship, trials and poverty, they gave generously. A survey of the letters to the Thessalonians and Philippians will tell us that theses churches suffered persecution for their faith in Christ. Christians then often underwent economic boycott. Furthermore, more converts came from the slaves and those in lower economic situation. Fewer converts came from the upper class.

Paul revealed that the Macedonians’ spirit of generosity was not stifled despite their poverty and all their hardship, trials and persecution. When they heard about the collection, they begged Paul for the opportunity to participate in giving to the saints, even though they were poor and were facing great ordeal of afflictions themselves. They did not just give, they also gave joyfully. And they gave not just what was reasonably expected, they even gave willingly beyond their means. No one coerced them to give, they contributed out of their free will. What was more wonderful was that they first gave of themselves to the Lord. In other words, they did so by first committing and surrendering themselves to the Lord. They even gave to support Paul, according to the purpose of God. 

One key thing to note is this. The Macedonian churches did not give because they became aware of the needs. Paul tells us that it was because of the working of God’s grace in their lives. Seeing the example of the Macedonians’ generosity, Paul was motivated to encourage the Corinthians to do the same. So as a result, he urged Titus to help bring this grace of giving in the Corinthians to its completion. Titus had spoken to the Corinthians about this while he was there. And he would return to them to supervise the giving and to complete what he had started before the arrival of Paul. Here the apostle reminded them that since they had started the collection, they needed now to complete it. In verse 7 he motivated them, by praising their progress in their faith, speech, knowledge, in living earnestly for the Lord and their love. So he told them to add to the list of progress, this grace of giving. Paul was in essence telling them that they were doing well, so keep it up.

There are three things about giving that the Macedonians had taught us by their examples. They gave joyfully and generously. They gave voluntarily and counted it a privilege. That’s the attitude we need to adopt in giving. Then they gave as much as they could and even beyond themselves. In fact they sought for the opportunity to give. They took the initiative and didn’t wait to be asked. Finally before anything else, they first gave of themselves to the Lord. They knew what priority meant. They knew they belong to God, hence whatever they had was at His disposal. What about us? The next time we put our money into the offering bag, let’s ensure we have the right attitude, the right manner and the right priority!