Lesson
▪ 1998
Tags: Ministry; Church; Christian service; Christian giving; Jerusalem offering; 2
Corinthians 8:1-9
Excerpted from
Serving God: A Plan for SuccessRelated Resources:
Grace Giving: An Analysis of 2 Corinthians 8-9 ▪
Missions Giving: Ministry through Generosity (2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15)
Biblical Text
2 Corinthians 8.1-9
1 Moreover,
brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a
great trial of aflliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded
unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to [their]
power, I bear record, yea, and beyond [their] power [they were] willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with
much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship
of the ministering to the saints.
5 And [this they
did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us
by the will of God.
6 Insomuch that we
desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same
grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye
abound in every [thing, in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all diligence,
and [in] your love to us, [see} that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by
commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity
of your love.
9 For ye know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Exegesis
- Paul appealed to the Corinthians on the basis of
the example of the churches of Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea).
His intent was that they follow through on their earlier intent to contribute
to an offering for the poor Christians in Jerusalem (8.10-11). The Macedonian
example was the only “soapbox” he needed. Though the Macedonian Christians were
very poor and found themselves under troublesome circumstances (8.2), God
poured out his grace on and through them (8.1). Their surrender to the Lord
gave way to a yielding to God’s will as embodied in Paul’s plan to collect an
offering for Jerusalem (8.5). Such was their willingness to give (8.3) that,
given their impoverished state, they had to persuade Paul and his associates to
accept their gift (8.4).
- It is stated that they overflowed in “the riches
of their liberality” (8.2). In other words, they showed themselves to be very
generous. It is interesting to note the two conditions under which this
liberality emerged: abundant joy and deep poverty (8.2). How did joy and
poverty combine to produce a liberal gift? It was a matter of will. They had
given themselves to the Lord and were willing to commit to the will of God for
their lives (8.5). They were willing to do all that was in their power to serve
God; in fact, they were willing “beyond their power” (8.3). They were
determined to give their gift; no objection from Paul would stop them (8.4).
Theirs was an example of forwardness (spoude,
haste, earnestness, diligence) to serve (8.8), patterned after the vicarious
atonement provided by Christ (8.9).
Application
- The account of the Macedonian churches’
generosity teaches us that heart condition—not economic status—is the key to
giving.
- The example given in 2 Corinthians 8 teaches a valuable
lesson concerning serving God: Many times the major reason we find it difficult
to serve God is that we lack willingness to do so. The Macedonians were
willing, and they found a way to give. (Didn’t someone once say, “Where there’s
a will there’s a way”?) It follows that one of the keys to success in serving
God is an attitude of volunteerism.
Discussion
- Are we American Christians achieving our
potential for spiritual service, particularly in the light of the wealth God
has chosen to give us? Is our church serving God as it should? Are you
fulfilling God’s design for your life in the matter of service?
- Can you share a testimony about how God helped
you to serve him once you took the initiative and volunteered?
