2 Corinthians 8:1–24 (NKJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But 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. 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For 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. 10 And 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; 11 but 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. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but 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. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” 16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and 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, 20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And 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. 23 If 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. 24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
St. Paul spent two chapters in his second epistle to the Corinthians urging them to finish gathering a generous offering for the saints in Jerusalem who were suffering scarcity due to famine. He gives them one reason after another to follow through with the charitable aid they had promised, and we do well to note that his words apply, not to their divine obligation to support the local ministry of the Gospel, but to an offering that was above and beyond their local responsibilities, an offering that was entirely free, and yet still subject to the guidance of God’s Word. We can apply his counsel especially to the charitable offerings we gather for other Christians or congregations within our fellowship.
Give, because giving itself is God’s gracious gift to you, as the Macedonian Christians had already proven by the generous offering they had gathered, even though they themselves were suffering.
Give, because it will prove the sincerity of your love.
Give, because Christ gave everything for you, to the point of impoverishing Himself, and has made you rich with the gifts of forgiveness, adoption, access to God, and an eternal inheritance.
Give, because you said you would give and already expressed your desire to help.
Give, because it is a godly thing for Christians who have more of something to share it with Christians who have less. Right now you have more money, and they have less. They, on the other hand, may have an abundance of something else which they can share with you, like wisdom, prayer, thanksgiving, or doctrinal insight.
Let us pray: O God of grace, we pray for all our fellow Christians who are suffering any need. Grant us the grace to supply their needs out of the abundance You have given us. Amen.
