2 Corinthians 8:8-15

                                                                      2 Corinthians 8:8-15

I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.  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 by his poverty might become rich.  And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.  So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.  For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.  For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.  As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

 

Paul continues to instruct the church in Corinth about their giving.  It seems that the church had good intentions in this area but appears to lack the resolve to see the matter through.  Good intentions are important but not sufficient.  Generosity requires that the gift actually be given and provide for the needs of others.  Having a desire to give and understanding the need to give must be followed up by actual giving.

 

OUR GIVING SHOULD IMITATE CHRIST: Any love or generosity we show to one another is simply an extension of the love that we have experienced from Christ.  He loved us in such a sacrificial and complete manner.  He who is the creator and sustainer of the universe made Himself poor so that we might become rich through Him.  Our giving should also be sacrificial and for the benefit of others.  He gave Himself, not because we deserved it, but simply by His grace out of genuine love for us.  Our giving should not be dependent upon the worthiness of the object of our giving.  It must come from a place of grace and love the imitates the generosity of Christ.

 

OUR GIVING SHOULD DEMONSTRATE RESOLVE: Apparently, the subject of giving to the needs of the saints in Jerusalem was not a new subject in Corinth.  Paul says that this project started a year earlier.  The church had talked about and agreed that it was important to give, but the work had not, as of yet, been completed.  It is easy for us to recognize the importance of giving.  It is easy for us to talk about giving.  It is easy for us to plan our giving.  It is easy for us to desire to give generously.  However, none of those things is actually giving.  There comes a time when we need to follow through on all the good intentions and make the donation.  

 

OUR GIVING SHOULD COMPENSATE OTHERS: There are many blessings associated with giving.  We experience joy and peace from having been obedient to God.  There is a sense of fairness and equity when our abundance is shared with others who do not have the same resources.  As members of the same body, we are to care for one another and help one another according to the needs and God’s provision bestowed upon each other.  There will likely be a time when we will need others to meet our needs.  This is how the body is to function. 

 

APPLICATION: Remember with gratitude the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf and imitate that generosity in our giving.  Do more than talk about giving.  Be sure to follow through with the promise of giving generously.  Be humble to share in times of abundance and to receive in times of need. 

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