2 Corinthians 8:8-15 - Giving sacrificially like Christ

2 Corinthians 8:8-15 – Giving sacrificially like Christ

Paul must have realized that by bringing up the example of the Macedonians he might cause the Corinthians to close up their purse instead. So he made clear that he was not trying to hold up the Macedonians’ generosity as a standard for them. He brought up the Macedonians by way of example to challenge the Corinthians to prove the depth of their sincerity and love.   

 

In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Paul had challenged them to give. He had also provided some instructions on how they ought to go about it. Here in 2 Corinthians 8:11, he gently brought them back to that situation and reminded them of how they were the first to show enthusiasm about giving. That happened a year ago. That enthusiasm must have vanished in that one year of their tense relationship with Paul. So he urged them now not only to do it but to complete it.

 

In verse 9 Paul gave the ultimate example of giving. He cited the Lord Jesus Christ who though He was rich, became poor for our sake. Christ gave without expecting to receive anything from the people that he came to give. When Christ came He did not consider all the inconveniences that He would have to face. He only considered the great wealth that we would receive: a reconciled relationship with God and all the benefits of that relationship. Paul’s purpose was to induce in believers a sense of giving like the Lord Jesus Christ. They should give without expecting to be reciprocated.  

 

It appears that in these verses Paul was anticipating in his mind some objections that would be raised regarding his appeal. The Corinthians might say that the Macedonians gave more because they had more. Paul already dealt with that in verse 2 when he mentioned their deep poverty. So in verse 12 he told them that giving should commensurate with what one had. He did not expect them to give what they did not have. Hence the same amount for everyone was not fixed. There could be a possibility that the Corinthians had made a promise of an amount but realized they could not meet the pledge they had made, and so they drew back altogether.    

 

In verses 13-14, Paul probably anticipated another objection in his mind. He could have imaging them saying “The situation at Jerusalem (the ‘others’) was not so bad off and if we were hit by affliction, would they help us?” Paul might have other reasons for soliciting the collection but he was in no doubt about the poverty of the church in Jerusalem. He was not about to create poverty in the Corinthians so as to ease the church in Jerusalem. Paul was talking about equality in terms of mutual assistance. He felt that financial assistance between the churches should be mutual. This time it was the Corinthians meeting the needs of the church in Jerusalem. But it could also happen the other way around when the church in Corinth had needs. Strangely Paul summed up his argument on equality by citing Exodus 16:18. Regardless of how much each had gathered everyone had enough. Those who tried to gather more would find the extra rotting away. Here is implied that if the Corinthians clutched tightly to the extras that they had, it would not benefit them in the end.

 

Our example in living and giving sacrificially should be Christ Jesus, our Lord. We love because He had first loved us. We give because He had first given to us. Make Christ the prime consideration of your living and giving, and we shall not live or give in vain!