Chapters 8-9 center on the subject of the grace of giving.
A story was circulated some time ago about Arnold Palmer’s visit with a certain king. This king was impressed with Arnold Palmers golf record and as they talked the king wanted to give Mr. Palmer a gift. He tried to refuse at first, but the king insisted and asked what gift Mr. Palmer might enjoy. Finally, Mr. Palmer suggested that he might give him a golf club. The king seemed happy with that answer. Two days later Arnold Palmer received in the mail from the king the deed to a 200 acre golf club. Now that’s an elaborate gift.
But when I think about the most elaborate and extravagant gift I’ve ever heard of, one thing stands out far above all the rest. It, to, is the gift of a king. And it is a gift for every one of us. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…
You see God is the first and best giver of all. His grace to us is to make us like himself in every way. Not the least of which is this grace of giving that proves our love.
As we look at our text today, we see that these Corinthian Christians have made a promise about a gift to help the needy saints in Jerusalem who are suffering from a famine and Paul has taken them seriously. In fact, he told the Macedonians about it and they wanted to join in too. It looks like Paul shared this Corinthian promise with them but seeing their poverty had told the Macedonians that they did not need to participate in this relief effort, considering their condition. Paul has boasted about the Corinthian church to them and they are stirred up to get in on the action. They have already done it. Now, though, there is a problem. The Corinthians have not carried out their promise. So Paul begins this section of the letter with this…
I. Challenging Comparison of Commitment
1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
Just look at these Macedonians! God has bestowed his grace on them in the form of generous hearts that give liberally in spite of deep poverty! And look at who was begging whom here! It wasn’t Paul begging them to contribute, but they were begging him to receive their gift so that they could have fellowship in this ministry to the saints.
Why? What motivated their generosity? It is called the grace of God bestowed on them. How so? This was no show of competition with Corinth. This was a demonstration of what happens when people give themselves to God. They’ve been under the trial of affliction, but they have an abundance of joy. They’ve been struggling with deep poverty, but they give liberally, beyond their ability, and of their own accord!
Why? Love doesn’t always operate reasonably. Remember, for God so loved… what did he give? Love has its on priority system, which is measured in terms of grace.
Let me illustrate this further. I need a volunteer: one of our youth, say, between 2nd and 6th grade. Would one of you raise your hand? (Pick one and have him/her come to up front).
Now, mom and dad, I imagine at some point _________ here has asked for something and you told them you can’t afford it, am I right? Have your mom and dad ever said that to you? When we look at things in one perspective we measure our money according to a certain kind of priority and this is based on wisdom. But you know something; I’ve noticed that when someone we love gets really sick or is in an accident we use a different standard don’t we. I mean we do whatever it takes to help, don’t we. We will mortgage our home or cash in our retirement, or borrow our way into as much debt as we possibly can to save the life of the one we love if that’s what it takes. How much is this person worth? That’s how love operates. It measures value in terms of grace that gives beyond reason. Listen, when God considers how much you are worth to him, you can’t believe what a high price he puts on your head!
Paul presents this challenging comparison of commitment from the Macedonians and now calls the Corinthians to complete their contribution.
II. Call (not Command), to Complete their Contribution
6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7But 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.
8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9For 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. 10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Notice that Titus is the leader in this matter. Evidently they promised this gift during Titus’s ministry there about a year earlier, and Titus reported this to Paul, who in turn boasted of it among the Macedonians, who in turn were stirred to make the generous offering that he just wrote of. Now a year has passed and the Corinthians have had a series of problems. They’ve been distracted from their original promise of a contribution and it’s time to remember their promise and do something about it. This is also a good way to get back on track and get involved in helping those outside themselves. Paul sees this as a great opportunity for them to grow and prove their love and increase in maturity and grace.
This is a very important lesson for us to remember. Keeping commitments we make is part of maturity and growth in grace too. God is consistent. He always keeps his promises. We must keep ours. Paul is telling these Corinthians to put their money where their mouth is, or was, as the case may be. Complete your commitment. Besides, this is an example for others who are watching. It looks like there is a large campaign to raise contribution for the saints in Jerusalem. These Corinthians have made a commitment and now we see that there is a…
III. Confident Church appointed Company Coming to Corinth
16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— 21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24Therefore show to them, and before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
These Corinthians are about to have company. The Churches have appointed certain ones as witnesses and administrators of this generous gift that the Corinthians have promised to participate in. They are coming to Corinth. Paul says that they are doing everything possible to do what is honorable in the sight of God and men in this. He knows full well that he could easily be accused of mishandling funds. He is careful not to cause any false accusations.
When handling finances we need to remember this. Accountability is important. We take seriously the offerings of God’s people and our elders and deacons in charge of distributing these gifts do it prayerfully and carefully and every penny is accounted for.
God’s gifts to us are also a matter we will account for. God expects us to take the talents and skills he has blessed us with and put them to use for the kingdom! There is coming a day of accounting. Even our words will be measured and judged. The Lord is coming back. We will all stand before his judgement seat and give an account of everything we do. How are we doing? May God help us to carefully and prayerfully apply ourselves to the service of sharing and distributing the gifts of God! Next week we will pick up in chapter nine for part two of this study.
