2Cor.8:1-5“HOW GOD WANTS US TO GIVE”

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2Cor.8
2 Corinthians 8:1–5 HCSB
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: 2 During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. 3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, 4 they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, 5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will.

Sub: “HOW GOD WANTS US TO GIVE”

INTRO:

Paul had to write to the Corinthians about the uncomfortable subject of giving so he referred to the admirable example of the Christians in Macedonia and used their giving to courageously challenge the Corinthians to give. Paul went through much in his relationship with the Corinthians.

CONTEXT: It is also important that we understand that this section of Scripture is not about tithing or even regular giving to the local church. It is about a one-time special gift to another church. It is about God's grace as it relates to giving. It is about the motivation behind giving. And it is intentionally motivational regarding giving.

Here in this eighth chapter of Second Corinthians, along with the ninth chapter, Paul moved the attention of the Corinthians to the subject of giving. He began this discussion by lifting up before the Corinthians the generosity of the churches in Macedonia. The churches in Macedonia were experiencing great troubles and extreme poverty. However, they exceeded their ability in the contributions they gave for the benefit of the saints in Jerusalem.

The giving of the Macedonians was not by force. Their giving was not because Paul begged them to give. They gave because they urged Paul to allow them to participate in the offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem. In addition to their liberal giving, they also gave themselves to the Lord. The actions of the Macedonians led Paul to advise Titus to continue the work he had begun in Corinth in receiving the offering.

1.God Expects Us to Give Sacrificially

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: 2 During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.”

From the start, Paul gave God the glory for the ability and the desire to give. Human nature motivates people to hoard wealth. The common excuse for accumulating great amounts of money is to make one's future entirely secure. Only when Christians completely trust God for all their needs, as they should, can they begin to freely give out of what God has given them. Not only are material possessions gifts from God, but also the willingness to give is a gift from God. God's free grace--his undeserved favor—motivates us to give our time, money, and talents more generously to others.

Paul takes great care to show that it was not in the circumstances of prosperity that the saints in Macedonia gave their liberal offering.

a. The persecution problem

"Great trial of affliction." and 17 describe some of the great persecution that came to the followers of the Gospel in Macedonia. Yet in spite of this severe problem, they still gave without hesitation. They did not complain about their problems but gave in spite of them.

b. The poverty problem

"Their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberal. Poverty was another problem the Macedonians had which could have limited their giving but did not. Some severe tests of affliction had come upon these local churches, and they had been reduced to what is described as "deep poverty" or, more literally, "down to the bottom poverty." But in all their affliction and poverty, there was joy and liberality.

c. Their pleasurable participation

"The abundance of their joy". Perisseia (abundance) means “a surplus,” or “an overflow.” In spite of their persecution and poverty, they had great joy in their giving. Those who know the Lord can understand this fact. The joy of salvation can overcome any situation. It can encourage giving in spite of persecution and poverty. It reminds us of the joy of Jesus Christ "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" (). The Macedonians did not give grudgingly, reluctantly, out of a sense of duty, or under duress. Nor were they motivated by fear of divine punishment or of Paul's displeasure. They gave gladly, freely, joyfully, knowing that “God loves a cheerful giver” ().

The Macedonians' joy transcended their pain, sorrow, and suffering.

Submission to the will of God produces a joy this world will never understand and even many professing Christians do not understand.

2.God Expects Us to Give Spontaneously

“3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, 4 they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints”

The Macedonians' giving was on their own initiative; it was self-motivated and spontaneous. Authairetos (of their own accord) refers to one who chooses his own course of action. The Macedonians did not have any limits on what they were willing to give. They gave liberally and sacrificially to meet the needs of the saints in the church at Jerusalem. They gave as much as they were able to give and they even went beyond what they were able to give. They did not give from their extra money. They gave from what they had. They gave despite the fact that they were experiencing great afflictions and that they were at the point of being beggars themselves. Out of their poverty, the Macedonians gave more than what could have been expected from them.

a. They gave according to their ability

They gave in proportion to what they had, according to their ability. Dunamis (ability) literally means “power,” or “strength,” and here refers to the Macedonians' capacity or means to give. The Macedonians gave according to what they had but in proportions that were sacrificial.

b. They gave above their ability

Their giving was beyond what could reasonably be expected of such a poor congregation. Life was difficult for them; as noted in verse 2, they faced extreme poverty and persecution. Yet despite their desperate circumstances, they joyfully gave with no regard for themselves, compelled by the needs of the poor saints in Jerusalem. The Scriptures make it plain that the grace of giving is not so much the result of outward compulsion as the consequence of inward expulsion! In a very real sense, it is "the expulsive power of a new affection." The secret of the Macedonian giving was simply: they "gave of their own free will." This is an accurate rendering of the phrase, "they were willing of themselves." What is more, they took the initiative in beseeching Paul "with much entreaty" that he would receive the gifts. The initiative had belonged to the people, not the pastor. The word "begging" (deomai) means to make request, to desire, to say please or to long for. It suggests to beg so as to bind onself. The Macedonians were begging Paul for the privilege of favor in sharing in the offering. They were not only desiring to give, they were assuring Paul that they would follow through on what they said they would do. They wanted the opportunity to share from their meager resources as an expression of the grace of God in their lives.

3.God Expects Us to Give Spiritually

"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" (v. 5, KJV).

In other words, their giving was the outward expression of their total dedication to God. Their giving was accompanied by an act of complete self-surrender. Their giving was the measure of their love for Christ, Savior and Lord. Giving is not the only indicator of your love for God, but it will always be one of the indicators. These days afford us the opportunity so to demonstrate our love for Him.

We need to know that what we have is not our own. We have it for the sake of God and others. It has been said that we are like an apple tree. An apple tree produces fruit not for its own consumption but for the consumption of others. Our gifts are given so that we can bless others by ministering to them.

Look at some things God made and how they give.

God made the sun - it gives heat, light, guidance.

God made the moon - it gives tidal pull, moonbeams, decoration.

God made the stars - they give beauty, direction, a point of orientation, awe.

God made the air - it gives oxygen, life, balmy breezes.

God made the clouds - they give shade, beauty, rain, cooling.

God made the earth - it gives grandeur, solidity, resources, gems, nourishment.

God made the seas - they give fish, plants, moisture to the air.

God made the trees - they give perfumes, lumber, fruit, shade.

God made the flowers - they give beauty, grace, fragrence, color.

God made the birds - they give food, entertainment, beauty, decoration.

God made the beasts - they give companionship, lamb chops, wool, hides.

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