2 Corinthians 8:9

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Intro

Chapter 8-9 is a collection for needy Christians.

Our section has Paul encouraging the Corinthians church to give generously.

The example of the churches of Macedonia

The example of Christ

He was rich - in divinity

Became poor - in the incarnation

you might become rich - to be saved

Testing of Love

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.

If Christians have received kindness from Christ, they ought to give kindness.

What does it mean to say you love Christ and want to follow him, yet don’t follow his examples?

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 3)

1 John 3:17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth

2. What is your motivation? Love of Christ or to look good to others?

The Motivation

Not from external commands but internal devotion, devotion to the Lord. Isn’t this what we want from our kids?

But the remarkable point about this verse is the implication that it was the powerful preaching of the gospel that motivated the earliest Christians to such generosity, not specifically preaching about money or impassioned exhortations from leaders to share possessions! The gospel message about God’s grace in Christ inspired a culture of self-giving in love (cf. 2 Corinthians 8–9).

David G. Peterson

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 2)

Philippians 2:3-11 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.And when he had come as a man,8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Corinthians had directly benefited from His generosity (your and you are emphatic). He became what they were (poor) so that they could become what He was and is (rich). Therefore was a material offering to Him (cf. Matt. 25:34–40) too much to ask?

Jesus’s self-sacrifice is an even higher standard of giving. He willingly exchanged all the wealth of his deity for the poverty of the incarnation.

“Christ didn’t die on a cross and rise from the dead to give us a program of “sin management,” to use Dallas Willard’s expression.12 Christ died on a cross and rose from the dead to save us from sin so that we, too, could live a new life (see Rom. 6:4). Again, we need to stress that this “new life” will come to fulfillment only in the resurrection at the end of time; but it’s also true that Christ’s resurrection is already at work in us. Here and now we can begin to experience the redemption of eros, the transformation of our hearts.”

We don’t trust God.

Christ calls us to something very different. He calls us to a “living morality” that flows from the heart.

The Gospel changes us and gives us the freedom to fulfil the law, not freedom from it.

Most people look at Christian morality—especially sexual morality—as an oppressive list of rules to follow. How far this (mis)understanding is from the “living morality” proclaimed by Christ! The gospel doesn’t give us more rules to follow. The gospel is meant to change our hearts so that we no longer need the rules. To the degree that we experience this change of heart, we experience what the Bible calls “freedom from the law” (see Rom. 7; Gal. 5)—not freedom to break the law; freedom to fulfill it.

The question!

Here’s a question we can ask ourselves to determine where our hearts still need to be liberated: What laws do we still need? What laws feel like a burden or imposition? Perhaps the problem is not with the law but with our own “hardness of heart.” If this is where we find ourselves, the solution is not to toss out the law. The solution is to surrender our disordered desires to Christ and let him transform them.

Our Giving

If we too are following the example of Christ, how is it that we are being generous to those in need?

How can I give generously and best serve the church, God’s kingdom work.

Making one’s possession available for God’s service in the way in which he directs, as a practical recognition that all possessions come from him.

Types of currency we can use to help others

friendship, caring, creative ideas, encouragement, time, joy, persistence, possessions, spiritual gifts, networking, mentoring, persuasion, tutoring, cheering, insight, talents, skills, persuasion, hugs, smiles, words of blessing, and so much more.

Extra Stuff

And if he emptied his great self for us, who are as nothing, shall not we be ready to empty our little selves for him, who is so great?

Our Lord’s Voluntary Poverty, Volume 59, Sermon #3380 - 2 Corinthians 8:9

Charles Spurgeon

Woman who gave out of her poverty

The ultimate foundation of ethics is the character and the will of God, which is made known supremely through Jesus Christ and in Scripture.

Motivations for generosity

God dealing with us

Demonstration of generosity

Making one’s possession available for God’s service in the way in which he directs, as a practical recognition that all possessions come from him.