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True Generosity. The Challenge of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:1-13
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity 2 Corinthians 8:2
In our passage we see Paul teaching the Corinthian Christians true generosity and giving. And perhaps as we read this passage of scripture may the Lord teach us some important principles of giving.
A. The Macedonian generosity Paul draws the attention of the readers of his letter to the example of the Macedonian Christians as generous givers. Macedonia had always occupied a special place in Paul’s heart (1 Thessalonians 1:3, Philippians 4:1). He was always eager to return to them (Acts 20:1, 2 Corinthians 1:16). In fact many Macedonians became his trusted colleagues and co-labourers in the gospel.
The Macedonian Christians were generous givers because they were touched by grace (verse 1). In other words, truly generous people were also gracious people because their hearts had been touched by grace. Grace and generosity goes together and we see this linkage in verses 1, 6, 7 and 9.
If Macedonian generosity grew from grace, how was it expressed? Firstly it was expressed in giving in spite of their circumstances. Verse 2 and 3...Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Giving out of grace is free and willing. It goes beyond the expected and into the realms of the unexpected. It is giving beyond the ability to give.
Secondly the Macedonian Christians expressed their generosity in the context of a number of shared attitudes. Verses 4 and 5...they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. Four attitudes were brought to bear in giving.
Firstly the Macedonian Christians saw giving as a privilege. In fact they pleaded with Paul and the others for an opportunity to give because they saw giving as a privilege. Secondly, they gave because it was a sharing in the service to the saints. Ministering to the needs of the saints was a service willingly shared by the Macedonian Christians. The labourer is worthy of his hire and it is God’s will that the worker be ministered to by the gifts of the children of God. Thirdly they gave because they saw that their giving was a symbol of their giving themselves to the Lord. True generosity will arise when we see that our giving is not to a person, mission agency, minister or ministry. As soon as we see that as a target, we immediately put a burden of expectation on the recipient. And when there is a mismatch of expectations, misunderstandings arise. Giving should be to Him. God is the final arbiter whether the gifts is well used. Finally they gave because it was in keeping with the will of God.
Mission history is liberally peppered with rather dramatic examples of large sums of money, yet God’s provisions has come in small sums of money from complete strangers who gave out of their meagre resources. Again, despite the horror and devastation of the blitz in London and other parts of Britain and the crippling war taxation, donation to the Mission actually increased by more than 50% over the previous years. Generosity is not totally dependent on abundance but on grace even in times of need. Generosity is expressed in the right attitudes of giving. That is the message of the Macedonians to the Corinthians. That is how, generosity that is rooted in grace is expressed. That is also the message of Christmas-the giving of the precious Son of God to undeserving humanity.
B. The example of Jesus If Paul pointed to the Macedonian Christians as an example of generosity, he next pointed to Jesus as the supreme example of generosity. Verse 9...For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich yet for our sakes he became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
What did Paul mean when he spoke of Christ becoming poor?. The word poor is represented by two words in Greek. The first word is penes. This word describes genteel poverty (Barclay). It is poverty that is characterised by a loss of influence because of a reversal of fortune. It is not destitution. The other word that is used is ptochos. This is the word used in this passage. It describes a man so poor as to make him cower and crouch in utter destitution. He has nothing and is starving. Not only does he lack the world’s goods, he also lacks the necessities of life. He lacks self esteem and social esteem and is down trodden and oppressed. Ptochos describes a man who suffers abject poverty, destitution, one who is weak and a non-entity.
Christ became like that. He became a ptochos and not a penes. From one who had divine resources he became nothing, a non-entity and gave all to us so that we might become rich. It is a picture of a fabulously rich man who gives everything he has to become a ptochos.
True giving is like that. The Macedonian Christian gave from their poverty but they could not out do the giving of Christ. Christ gave everything including His life so that we might become rich. Do we lack emotional resources? Christ gave off all his emotional resources so that we shall never be in want in that area again. Do we lack spiritual resources? Christ has made all His spiritual resources freely available. If only we would ask, He would certainly give...shaken, pressed down and running over.
C. The Corinthian Challenge If true generosity is clearly seen in the example of the Macedonian Christians and supremely in the Lord, what then should we do in order to be generous? Paul challenges the Corinthians and likewise his readers to do three things in order to be generous givers.
First, Paul tells them to aim for completion for what they had been blessed. Verse 7...But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. The Corinthians had been given much and they had excelled in a number of areas. Now Paul, tells them to complete all these graces and giftings by being generous. If we have been given much and has excelled in many areas, Paul urges us also to complete them by excelling in generosity.
Secondly, aim for completion for what they started. Verses 10 to 12...And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give, but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work...The Corinthians had perhaps willed a sum to be given to Paul but had not done so. Paul tells them to complete that desire. May the Lord also move us to complete unfinished business with Him.
Thirdly, he tells them to aim for equality (verses 13 to 15). When one is rich, give to those who are in need. And human fortunes being what it is, when one becomes poor, others to whom we have helped, will give in return so that we might be able to weather the lean times. There is equality and each generous giver acts as a buffer for the other in the changing fortunes of the world.
May the Lord teach us how to give.
by B.B. |
