Principles of Giving

1. Giving Reveals the Condition of Your Heart (8-9)

2 Corinthians 8:8 NASB95

8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NASB95

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 through His poverty might become rich.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 8

Born in a borrowed cradle, Jesus preached from a borrowed boat, rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey, ate His Last Supper in a borrowed room, and was buried in a borrowed grave. He who made everything laid it all down and entered into total poverty that I might be rich.

“This is the real issue,” says Paul. “Not only did the believers in Macedonia give in their poverty, but to an infinitely greater degree, Jesus gave everything to set us free.”

To the person not in love with Jesus, giving is a difficult, painful, arduous, burdensome task. He who loves Jesus, on the other hand, welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate his love

Gospel presentation.

2. The Desire to Give Must Be Followed by Action (10)

2 Corinthians 8:10 NASB95

10 I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

2 Corinthians 8:11 NASB95

11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 8

Forget the big plans, the high hopes, the visions of grandeur. Just do something now. Open your heart. Share with the person who’s struggling financially. Write a letter of encouragement. Pray for the person who’s hurting. Do something. Do anything. Just do it. The blessing is not in agreeing—it’s in doing.

3. Don’t Give What you Don’t Have (12)

2 Corinthians 8:12 NASB95

12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

4. Giving Ensures Christian Equality (13-15)

2 Corinthians 8:13 NASB95

13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—

The goal is equality, not Communism.

1a: a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed b: a theory advocating elimination of private property

2 or Communism a: a doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the Soviet Union b: a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production c: a final stage of society in Marxist theory in which the state has withered away and economic goods are distributed equitably d: communist systems collectively

so·​cial·​ism ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm  Synonyms of socialism any of various egalitarian economic and political theories or movements advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. Even at the beginning of the church in Acts 2 Where they shared with everyone, it was not communism. For the early church and the church at Corinth, property was privately owned and freely given when it was needed. If Paul wanted Communism, he would have demanded that once a person became a member of the church, they immediately hand all ownership of their property, goods, and money to the church, who would then distribute that wealth. You can easily see why this would lead to corruption and the destruction of the church.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NASB95

2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

We achieve equality by Christian individuals, who privately have wealth beyond their needs, being led by the Holy Spirit to voluntarily help other Christian individuals, who do not have enough wealth to take care of their needs. All of this was voluntary and temporary.

2 Corinthians 8:14 NASB95

14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;

The need at that time was Jerusalem, but it might someday be Corinth. The need for us now is Africa, or NC. Someday, the need might be Vermont. How would you like your brothers and sisters in Christ to respond to you in your time of need?

Example of Equality

2 Corinthians 8:15 NASB95

15 as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Exodus 16

May I suggest, have some money set aside a fund that can be given at a moment’s notice for needs of brethren around the world.