U.S. Republican lawmakers are “playing with fire” by contemplating even a brief debt default as a means to force deeper government spending cuts, an adviser to China’s central bank said this week. (http://business.financialpost.com/2011/06/08/china-warns-u-s-debt-default-idea-is-playing-with-fire/).
The United States has been so generous in contributing to international causes that it finds it hard to say no. As gracious as they often are in their giving, the problem really comes down to a lack of discipline in spending. They are generous yes, but wasteful as well. Their spending lacks a unifying moral focus and their debt level is bankrupting the country.
The church in Jerusalem had more than its share of the poor. Antioch had sent relief at least once (Acts 11:29). The Jerusalem council had asked Paul and Barnabas to remember the poor (Gal. 2:10). On his third missionary journey Paul had determined to raise a fund from the Gentile churches to help relieve the need in Jerusalem. 2 Corinthians 8–9 contain encouragements from Paul for the Corinthians to be liberal in their gifts to this fund. In 2 Corinthians 8:3-8, Paul cited the example of the Macedonians (vv. 1–7) and the example of Christ (vv. 8–15) to encourage them (Paschall, F. H., & Hobbs, H. H. (1972). The teacher’s Bible commentary: A concise, thorough interpretation of the entire Bible designed especially for Sunday School teachers (737). Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.).
We show "The Grace of Giving" when:
1) Giving Is Proportionate (2 Cor. 8:3a)
2 Corinthians 8:3a [3]For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and (beyond their means, of their own accord), (ESV)
Paul’s use of the phrase "I can testify" (martureô) reveals his firsthand experience of the Macedonians’ generosity, as we saw last week in Phil. 4:15–18. They gave in proportion to what they had, according to their means/ability. Dunamis (means/ability) literally means “power,” or “strength,” and here refers to the Macedonians’ capacity to give.
Quote: Someone once said: "Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving" (Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (163). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.).
For those in the New Covenant there is no fixed amount or percentage for giving. Instead, giving is to be “according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Cor. 8:12), as “[each person] may prosper” (1 Cor. 16:2). Any fixed amount or percentage would prove sacrificial for some but inconsequential for others.
Illustration: (1847 Quaker Oats)
Henry P. Crowell, contracted tuberculosis when a boy and couldn’t go to school. After hearing a sermon by Dwight L. Moody, young Crowell prayed, “I can’t be a preacher, but I can be a good businessman. God, if You will let me make money, I will use it in Your service.” Under the doctor’s advice Crowell worked outdoors for seven years and regained his health. He then bought the little run-down Quaker Mill at Ravanna, Ohio. Within ten years Quaker Oats was a household word to millions. For over forty years Henry P. Crowell faithfully gave 60 to 70 percent of his income to God’s causes (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.).
We show "The Grace of Giving" when:
2) Giving Is Sacrificial (2 Cor. 8:3b)
2 Corinthians 8:3b [3](For they gave according to their means, as I can testify), and beyond their means, (of their own accord), (ESV)
The Macedonians gave according to what they had but in proportions that were sacrificial. They had not prospered and given from their surplus. Instead, they gave out of their poverty (Garland, D. E. (2001). Vol. 29: 2 Corinthians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (368). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
Please turn to 1 Chronicles 21
Their giving was beyond what could reasonably be expected of such a poor congregation. Life was difficult for them; as we saw last week in verse 2, they faced extreme poverty and persecution. Yet despite their desperate circumstances, they joyfully gave with no regard for themselves, compelled by the needs of the poor saints in Jerusalem (cf. Heb. 13:16). They believed God’s promise to supply all their needs (Phil. 4:19) and refused to worry about them (Matt. 6:25–34), gladly placing themselves in deeper dependence on Him.
King David expressed what genuine sacrificial giving means:
1 Chronicles 21:18-26 [18]Now the angel of the LORD had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [19]So David went up at Gad’s word, which he had spoken in the name of the LORD. [20]Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. [21]As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. [22]And David said to Ornan, "Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD--give it to me at its full price--that the plague may be averted from the people." [23]Then Ornan said to David, "Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all." [24]But King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing." [25]So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. [26]And David built there an altar to the LORD and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. (ESV)
• From David’s sin in calling an unwarranted Census, on God’s initiative and direction, He commanded David to build an altar as a provision for atonement. The fire from heaven signified God’s approval of the site.
• Sacrificial giving cannot atone for sin, for Christ is the final and perfect sacrifice for sin. It is a picture that obedience costs something. True sacrificial giving shows that we are truly thankful for how much God has given to us.
Illustration: A little girl was given two dollars by her father. He told her that she could do anything she wanted with one and that the other was to be given to God on Sunday at church. The girl nodded in agreement and asked if she could go to the candy store. With visions of all that she could buy with her dollar, she happily skipped toward the store, holding tightly to the two dollars in her hand. As she was skipping along, she tripped and fell and the wind blew one of the dollars into a storm drain at the curb. Picking herself up, the little girl looked at the dollar still in her hand and then at the storm drain and said, “Well, Lord, there goes your dollar.” Sadly, many of us have the same attitude toward giving. First me, then God (Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (159). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.)
We show "The Grace of Giving" when:
3) Giving Is Voluntary (2 Cor. 8:3c)
2 Corinthians 8:3c [3](For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means), of their own accord, (ESV)
The Macedonians’ giving was internally motivated, as prompted by the Holy Spirit. Authairetos (of their own accord) refers to one who chooses his own course of action. The Macedonians were not coerced, manipulated, or intimidated, but gave freely.
It is possible that Paul, aware of their deep poverty, had not even asked them to contribute to the poor saints in Jerusalem. It is evident from 8:10 and 9:2 that about a year had passed since he first told the Corinthians about that collection. When Paul told the Macedonians about the zeal of the believers in Achaia (where Corinth was located) to contribute, the Macedonians were moved to give (9:2). Events had now come full circle. The Corinthians’ zeal had initially prompted the Macedonians to give, and now Paul held them up as an example of sacrificial giving for the lagging Corinthians to imitate.
Despite the claims of those who advocate mandatory tithing, New Covenant giving is entirely voluntary. Paul did not require a fixed amount or percentage from either the Macedonians or the Corinthians, nor does any other New Testament writer. The argument for tithing as a fixed percentage is based on a misunderstanding of the Old Testament.
Though as God’s Son, Christ was exempt from the temple tax, Jesus nonetheless paid it (Matt. 17:24–27). Nor did He criticize the Pharisees for paying their tithes (Matt. 23:23), Jesus also taught that taxes were to be paid even to the hated Romans (Matt. 22:15–21). To pay taxes is to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” and is not optional. Even though governments today are secular, not theocracies, they are still established by God (Rom. 13:1), and the taxes they impose are to be paid (Rom. 13:6–7).
Please turn to 2 Cor. 9
The New Testament also speaks of freewill giving. The Macedonians and Corinthians were not compelled to give. The amount a believer gives is to be personally determined:
2 Corinthians 9:5-7 [5]So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. [6]The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7]Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (ESV) (cf. the example of Zaccheus [Luke 19:8]).
Believers are not to base their giving on the Old Testament principle of tithing but on the example of the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Corinthians 8:9 [9]For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (ESV)
Illustration: John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, wrote, “A man there was, and they called him mad; the more he gave, the more he had.” Of course Bunyan was writing of the Christian. To the world, such a principle of giving is nonsense. Only to the Christian, who understands that true worth is also spiritual, does this make sense. Hence, in giving to God, the Christian looks for spiritual returns (Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (163). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.)
We show "The Grace of Giving" when:
4) Giving Is a Privilege, Not an Obligation (2 Cor. 8:4)
2 Corinthians 8:4 [4]begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- (ESV)
Paul once again stressed that he in no way pressured the Macedonians to give. Instead they asked, even begged, to participate. Deomai (begging) is a strong word, meaning “to implore,” or “to plead.” That the Macedonians begged Paul earnestly, or “most insistently” and further testifies to the intensity of the Macedonians’ desire to contribute.
The privilege the Macedonians sought so eagerly was the favor of taking part/participation in the relief/support of the saints. Favor translates charis, which is commonly translated “grace.” They literally begged for the blessing of helping to meet the needs of believers they had never met. They did so not out of a sense of obligation but out of the generosity of their transformed hearts. Christians, like young children, need to grow out of their natural self-centeredness and learn to share with others. When they show evidence of this, Paul praises them profusely (Garland, D. E. (2001). Vol. 29: 2 Corinthians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (370). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
Illustration: ("I Could Have Done More")
The film Schindler’s List chronicled the heroic efforts of a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler. Through his unselfish activities, over a thousand Jews on the trains to Auschwitz were saved. After Schindler found out what was happening at Auschwitz, he began a systematic effort to save as many Jews as he could. For money, he could buy Jews to work in his factory which was supposed to be a part of the military machine of Germany. On one hand he was buying as many Jews as he could, and on the other hand he was deliberately sabotaging the ammunition produced in his factory. He entered the war as a financially wealthy industrialist; by the end of the war, he was basically financially bankrupt.
When the Germans surrendered, Schindler met with his workers and declared that at midnight they were all free to go. The most emotional scene of the film was when Schindler said good-bye to the financial manager of the plant, a Jew and his good and trusted friend. As he embraced his friend, Schindler sobbed and said, “I could have done more.” He looked at his automobile and asked, “Why did I save this? I could have bought 10 Jews with this.” Taking another small possession he cried, “This would have saved another one. Why didn’t I do more?” (James Forlines, Men’s Beat of Free Will Baptist Foreign Missions, April 1999, 4.)
One day Jesus is going to split the eastern sky and come for His own. It will not matter then how much money we have in a mutual fund or how many bedrooms we have in our homes. The temporary satisfaction we have in vacations and nice cars will be gone. Only what we have done for the cause of Christ will matter. The Privilege we have only now, is to use God’s resources for things that eternally matter.
We show "The Grace of Giving" when:
5) Giving Is an Act of Worship (2 Cor. 8:5a)
2 Corinthians 8:5a [5]and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord (and then by the will of God to us). (ESV)
And this introduces the next feature of the Macedonians’ giving. Their response was more than Paul expected. He had hoped for an offering, which they did freely give, but they gave themselves... They literally made a gift of themselves because of the way in which they gave (Lenski, R. C. H. (1963). The interpretation of St. Paul’s First and Second epistle to the Corinthians (1130). Minneapolis, MN.: Augsburg Publishing House.)
They gave themselves first to the Lord. First (prôtos) has the meaning here not of first in time, but of first in priority. The Macedonians’ first priority was to give themselves wholeheartedly to the Lord, and giving financially to the church followed. The giving of themselves takes precedency of their other gifts, as being the motive which led them to the latter (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (2 Co 8:5). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.).
The Macedonians’ giving was not motivated by a desire for praise from Paul or others. Their generosity was fundamentally motivated by their desire to serve the Lord Jesus. Their generosity and charity wasn’t for its own sake. They were not looking for congratulations from others. They weren’t doing it to feel good about themselves. They gave because they knew they were God’s. Everything they had—even their very souls—were God’s. Believers’ wealth and possessions are not theirs to keep. They are to be managed on behalf of their true owner. That is what the word “stewardship” means.
• As a symbolic act of sacrifice, open your Bible to this section of 2 Corinthians and place your wallet, watch, and personal calendar on top. Spend a few moments in prayer releasing your time, money, and commitments to the Lord (Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). 1 & 2 Corinthians. Life application Bible commentary (391). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.).
Please turn to Romans 12
The supreme act of worship is not giving money, attending church, or singing hymns, but giving oneself. In Romans 12:1–2 Paul wrote:
Romans 12:1-2 [12:1]I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2]Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)
As “a holy priesthood,” believers are “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5), the most important of which is themselves. Only when it is from a devout life, given to Christ wholly, does financial giving become an acceptable act of worship.
People will be tempted to imagine that giving of our substance is enough, that somehow this will make God pleased with us. External giving builds religious pride. Giving things instead of ourselves can easily become our religion, so that we never turn to Christ for salvation. It must be said that if you have not given your life to Christ, don’t give your money. God doesn’t need your money. Even more, he doesn’t want you to delude yourself. Jesus can have our money and not have our hearts, but he cannot have our hearts without our money. This story about the Macedonians is told by Paul about believers, for believers, to instruct true believers—no one else! (Hughes, R. K. (2006). 2 Corinthians : Power in weakness. Preaching the Word (158). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.)
Poem:
Now that my journey’s just begun,
My course so little trod;
I’ll stop before I further run,
And give myself to God. (SOURCE UNKNOWN)
We show "The Grace of Giving" when:
6) Giving Is Submissive (2 Cor. 8:5b–6)
2 Corinthians 8:5b-6 [5](and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord) and then by the will of God to us. [6]Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. (ESV)
Having given themselves to the Lord, the Macedonians also gave themselves to Paul, Titus, and Timothy. In fact, it was their devotion to the Lord that led them to submit to the leadership of their pastors. It is not “according to the will of God,” but “moved by the will of God, who made them willing” (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (2 Co 8:5). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.).
Confident that the Corinthians would follow the example of the Macedonians and submit to their pastors’ direction, Paul notes in 2 Cor. 8:6 that they urged Titus that as he had started/previously made a beginning, so he should complete among the Corinthians this act of grace/gracious work of giving. We humans are selfish by nature. Generosity is not something that comes naturally but is the result of God’s grace in our lives. This is why Paul refers to the Corinthian offering as this act of grace/gracious work (Belleville, L. L. (1996). Vol. 8: 2 Corinthians. The IVP New Testament commentary series (2 Co 8:7). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.).
“The grace” is not a favor from Paul, nor a favor from the Macedonians to the saints, but God’s favor to the Macedonians (Lenski, R. C. H. (1963). The interpretation of St. Paul’s First and Second epistle to the Corinthians (1129). Minneapolis, MN.: Augsburg Publishing House).
Titus had started/previously made a beginning of the work of collecting the Corinthians’ offering about a year earlier (2 Cor. 9:2). He had recently returned to Corinth bringing the severe letter, and Paul had urged him to help the Corinthians complete their giving. So Paul through his letters (1 Cor. 16:2) and Titus through his visits had both informed the Corinthians about what they expected them to do.
Illustration: “Among the Franks, whole armies were sometimes given baptism at one stroke, and many warriors went into the water with their right hands held high, so that they did not get wet. Then they could say, ‘This hand has never been baptized,’ and they could swing their battle axes just as freely as ever. The modern counterpart of that partial baptism is seen in many people who have been baptized, all except their pocketbooks. They held these high out of the water (Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (165). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.).”
We show "The Grace of Giving" when:
7) Giving Is in Concert with Other Christian Virtues (2 Cor. 8:7)
2 Corinthians 8:7 [7]But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you--see that you excel in this act of grace also. (ESV)
Giving does not take place in a vacuum, isolated from other Christian virtues. It must not be done contrary to what is in the heart, for that would be hypocrisy.
Please turn to Matthew 25
Paul’s affirmation to the Corinthians, you excel/abound in everything (1 Cor. 1:4–7), was an encouraging compliment to those vacillating believers. They had striven to excel in so many ways, and God had responded to their enthusiasm by giving them a wealth of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:4). Knowing that the Corinthians had a great amount of enthusiasm for spiritual gifts, Paul placed giving alongside other gifts. Paul wanted the Corinthians to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving, in being concerned for other people’s welfare. If they could compete at giving to others, their energies might be directed away from the spiritual gifts that were causing quarrels in their church (1 Corinthians 3:3). We must never argue that the ministry of our spiritual gifts is a substitute for generous giving. “I teach a Sunday School class, so I don’t have to give!” is not an explanation—it’s an excuse. The Christian who remembers that his gifts are gifts will be motivated to give to others and not “hide” behind his ministry for the Lord (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (2 Co 8:5). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.).
• Too often, stewardship of money is given a different status than other aspects of discipleship. Most believers would not want growth in faith, knowledge, or love to stop at a certain level. Yet many decide a fixed percentage to give and stay there for life. True discipleship includes growing in the mature use of all resources, so giving should expand as well (Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). 1 & 2 Corinthians. Life application Bible commentary (392). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.).
Critical to 2 Cor. 8:7 is the verb “excell/abound/overflow,” which picks up the Macedonians’ overflowing joy, “which has overflowed in the riches of their generosity” (v. 2). In the present verse it occurs first as a present indicative (what is happening) among the Corinthians and then as a present subjunctive (what should happen). This verb is written to encourage and admonish the Corinthians. They overflow in other “graces”; let them also overflow in this (Barnett, P. (1997). The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (403). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).
They abounded in saving, securing, sanctifying faith, having a strong trust in and reliance on the Lord. Logos (speech/utterance) refers here to doctrine, the “word [logos] of truth” (2 Cor. 6:7; Col. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:15; James 1:18). Knowledge is the ability to apply doctrine to the issues of life.
God expects us to apply biblical wisdom in using resources that he has given us:
Matthew 25:14-30 [14]"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. [15]To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. [16]He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. [17]So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. [18]But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. [19]Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. [20]And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ’Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ [21]His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ [22]And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ’Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ [23]His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ [24]He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ’Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, [25]so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ [26]But his master answered him, ’You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? [27]Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. [28]So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. [29]For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [30]And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (ESV)
• We will be held accountable for how we use the resources of time, talent and treasure. They are not evil things to be discarded but utilizing biblical wisdom, tools that can be used to advance the Kingdom of God.
Two very important characteristics of how we should use resources are finally specified in 2 Cor. 8:7. They should be used in: Earnestness (spoudç) which means “eagerness,” “energy,” or “spiritual passion” (2 Cor. 7:11–12). And finally in Love (agapç) which is the noble love of self-sacrifice.
Because of the spiritual virtues they possessed, Paul exhorted the Corinthians, See that you excell/abound in this act of grace/gracious work also. God’s grace had produced those virtues in them, and the apostle wanted it to flow out through their giving.
Illustration: During the reign of Oliver Cromwell the government ran out of silver with which to make the coinage of the realm. Cromwell therefore sent his men everywhere to see if they could find more of the precious metal.
They returned to report that the only silver they could find was in the statues of the saints which were on display in various cathedrals of the land. “Good!” replied Cromwell, “we will melt down the saints and put them into circulation!”. For all the gifts and talents that God has given us, he has put us into circulation to be spent for His Kingdom. (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.)
We show "The Grace of Giving" finally when:
8) Giving Is Proof of Love (2 Cor. 8:8)
2 Corinthians 8:8 [8]I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. (ESV)
As he concluded his discussion of exemplary giving, Paul reminded the Corinthians that he was not speaking by way of command. The term prove/test (dokimazô) carries the positive sense of examining something to prove its worth or authenticity (Belleville, L. L. (1996). Vol. 8: 2 Corinthians. The IVP New Testament commentary series (2 Co 8:8). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.).
That emphasizes yet again the fundamental principle that giving to the church is voluntary, freewill giving. Had Paul prescribed an amount or a fixed percentage, the Corinthians’ giving would have been in obedience to a command. Instead, Paul challenged the Corinthians to prove by/through the earnestness of others that their love also is genuine/ sincere.
Please turn to 1 John 3
The others to whom he referred were the Macedonians; the apostle urged the Corinthians to follow their example and prove the genuineness/sincerity of their love also. The true test of love is not feelings, but actions:
1 John 3:14-18 [14]We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. [15]Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. [16]By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. [17]But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? [18]Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (ESV)
The voluntary, generous, sacrificial giving modeled by the Macedonians was an example not only for the Corinthians but also for all believers. It is the path to experiencing God’s rich blessing in time and eternity.
(Format Note: Outline and some base commentary from MacArthur, J. (2003). 2 Corinthians (271–286). Chicago: Moody Publishers.)
