2 Corinthians8v1to15: GENEROSITY ENCOURAGED

(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

In his commentary on 2 Corinthians Paul Barrett puts this passage in context. The Corinthians had agreed nearly a year before to participate in a collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. See 1Cor16.

Paul gave the church at Corinth advice on how to proceed; for example, by taking up a collection once a week.

The Corinthians were initially enthusiastic; so much so that Paul boasted about their attitude to the fellowships in Macedonia. See 2Cor9v2. It seems likely that Titus informed Paul that the initial enthusiasm had waned.

So Paul, encouraged by the expressions of devotion Titus brought from Corinth, decides to remind the church of their commitment and urge them to give generously.

The Jerusalem church members were probably poor for three reasons:

(1) Heavy taxation from the Romans and Temple authorities.

(2) The high cost of food during time of famine.

(3) The policy adopted during the first phase of the early church of believers selling land and possessions and having everything in common. This allowed the Greek speaking Christians who had been converted while visiting Jerusalem to be grounded in the truth before persecution scattered them. It was obviously not a sustainable practice.

Paul was extremely keen to take up a collection on behalf of the Jerusalem church for a variety of reasons:

(1) It was something the Gentiles owed the Jewish Christians. See Rom15v25to27.

(2) On humanitarian grounds. The Jerusalem believers were in need.

(3) It might undermine the Judaisers who remained antagonistic to Gentile Christians. Paul hoped it might remind traditionalists of the agreement made at the Council of Jerusalem. See Acts15. Paul was ensuring that the Gentiles kept their part of the bargain namely, continuing to remember the poor. Gal2v10.

(3) He was anxious to be accepted and approved of by the church in Jerusalem. I find this a bit sad! In this Paul failed. His visit to Jerusalem did not allay the suspicions of his critics. See interesting exposition on Acts21v17to36.

(B) The prevalence of generosity.

  • We shouldn't think that if we lack generosity others are just the same.

  • We shouldn't think that the giving of our church is the norm.

  • We shouldn't think that no one takes the words of Jesus seriously, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Lk6v38.

  • We shouldn't overlook the fact that this passage is about giving money - not time and talents - but money. Some Christians find this the hardest thing of all to give!!

    Paul actually used the example of the Macedonian churches to encourage generosity in the Corinthians. The Macedonians:

    (1) Gave in spite of being poor. Out of the most severe trial ... their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. v2.

    The Christians at Philippi and Thessalonica did not make poverty an excuse for not giving. I used to visit a very old lady called Dorothy. She often told me tales of her girlhood nearly 100 years ago. Her father died when she was a baby and her mother was left to bring up her three daughters. She received no financial assistance from her husband's family. When Dorothy was only 7 or 8 she was taken to see her paternal grandfather who was dying. He came down stairs and took Dorothy onto his lap. He gave her half a crown and said, "We should have done more for you." It was too late by then. Dorothy's grandfather died a few days later. He had made his poverty an excuse for not helping his three granddaughters.

    (2) Gave even beyond their ability to give. The Macedonians knew what it was like to be in need. They suffered loss for Christ's sake - becoming marginalised in a predominantly pagan culture. Some lost their jobs, some were put out of trade by their guilds, some lost custom and some were no doubt evicted from their homes. But still they gave!

    (3) Gave joyfully counting it a privilege to contribute. They gave out of ... their overflowing joy .... . Entirely on their own they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in the service of the saints. v4. It reminds me of a story I read on the Internet:

    Two wealthy Christian a lawyer and a merchant joined a party that was going around the world. Their pastor asked them to take pictures of anything which they thought was unusual.

    In Korea, as they were travelling, they saw in a field a boy pulling a crude plough, while an old man held in his hands the handles. The lawyer was amused, and took a picture.

    Commenting to the guide, he said, "That is an unusual sight. I suppose they are very poor."

    "Yes," came the answer. "They are poor, that is the family of Chi Noui. When the church was being built in this area they were excited to give something to help it along, but they had no money so they sold their only ox and gave the money to the church. This spring they are taking turns pulling the plough themselves."

    The lawyer said thoughtfully, "That must have been a real sacrifice."

    The guide said, "They did not call it that." They thought it was fortunate they had an ox to sell."

    The lawyer was real quiet after that event. When they reached home, the lawyer took the picture to the pastor. As he sat down in the pastor’s study he said forcefully, "I want to double my pledge to the church. And please give me some plough work to do. I have never known what sacrifice for the church meant. A converted Korean taught me. I am ashamed to say I have never yet given anything to my church that cost me anything."

    (4) Gave so much they exceeded all Paul's expectations. And they did not do as we expected but they gave themselves first to God and then to us in keeping with God's will. v5.

    Paul was surprised by the Macedonian's gift although probably not quite as surprised as the pastor in this story:

    A man had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He could receive little company and was not to be excited. While in the hospital a rich uncle died and left him a million dollars. His family wondered how to break the news to him with the least amount of excitement. It was decided to ask the preacher if he would go and break the news quietly to the man. The preacher went, and gradually led up to the question. The preacher asked the patient what he would do if he inherited a million dollars. He said, "I think I would give half of it to the church." The preacher dropped dead.

    The gift of the Macedonians expressed their dedication first to God and secondly to God's servants. It revealed their love for God. I sometimes think we forget this. It was not forgotten by the girl in this story:

    Years ago, it was the custom for people to bring their gifts to the front of the church. A well known preacher was making an appeal to the people to give to a good cause. Many came to present their offerings of love. Among them was a little crippled girl who hobbled along at the end of the line. Pulling a ring from her finger she placed it on the table and made her way back up the aisle.

    After the service, an usher was sent to bring her to the preacher’s study. The preacher said, "My dear, I saw what you did. It was beautiful. But the response of the people was so generous that we have enough to take care of the need. We do not feel right about keeping your treasured ring, so we have decided to give it back to you."

    To his surprise, the little girl vigorously shook her head in refusal.

    "You do not understand," she said. "I did not give my ring to you, I gave it to God!"

    There are certainly many Christian churches that give like the Macedonians. Some small fellowships give hundreds of pounds a week to support a minister and missionary work. But there are other churches that are mean. It is worth noting that Paul was quite willing to compare one church with another. He wrote: I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. v8.

    (C) The Characteristics of Generosity.

    (1) It is a grace. And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. v1. See that you also excel in this grace of giving. v7.

    A grace is a lovely, attractive, shining virtue. It has about it the lustre of God's grace that arranged for our redemption by sending his son to earth.

    When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court.

    The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, "That'll be ten dollars -- a dollar for every mile you went over the limit."

    Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. "You have violated the law," he said. "The fine must be paid--but I am going to pay it for you." He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner

    From Progress Magazine, December 14, 1992.

    We would all recognise that the generosity of the judge was a grace - a winsome and beautiful thing - akin to the way that God treats sinners.

    (2) It delivers. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. v7. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it. v11.

    It seems likely from these comments and also 2Cor9v1to5 that the Corinthians had promised to give, begun to give but lost enthusiasm for giving.

    Sympathy and good impulses are not enough. Many feel sorry for those in distress, feel they ought to help but end up doing nothing. It is a lot easier to promise money than to actually give it.

    Sometimes Christians enter into a project involving considerable expenditure but then lose interest and the enterprise has to be discontinued. There is a lot to be said for CONSISTENT commitment.

    (3) It is costly. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

    Jesus has enriched all believers. Through him Christians receive forgiveness, new life, a constant helper, exalted status and a glorious hope. But to enrich us cost Jesus dear. He needed to lay aside his glory, wisdom and power, leave the fellowship of heaven and accept the restrictions of becoming frail, human flesh.

    Sacrificial giving is always restrictive. It involves a loss of freedom; going without: a new car, better house, foreign travel, all the latest gadgets, expensive furniture, meals out, a football season ticket, trips to the cinema and theatre, a weekly bottle of port, Sky TV, a daily newspaper .... .

    Few of us really give sacrificially. I have to admit that I don't. We shouldn't kid ourselves.

    (4) It is willing. For if the willingness is there the gift is accepted according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. v12.

    Paul eschewed certain tactics. He didn't believe in:

    (a) Bullying people to give. Years ago - in the 1930's and 1940's when Grace Baptist chapels in Suffolk were still very well attended - there used to be a minister called Harry Baker. I can remember seeing him once. I was intrigued by his waxed moustache! He was a great favourite for Sunday School Anniversaries. Harry always set himself the challenge of beating the record for the biggest collection ever taken for the Sunday school at the annual Anniversary. If he didn't get enough in the three collections taken during the course of the day he would stand at the door after the evening service with his hat pressurising the people as they left to give more!

    There is no doubt that there are churches that squeeze the last penny out of their members by methods akin to Harry's but without the humour he invariably brought to the task.

    (b) Shaming people to give. Paul did not talk up the plight of the poor Christians in Jerusalem. He didn't tug at the heart strings. There is a tendency for some Christian charities to do this.

    (c) Bribing people to give. In the bad old days the Roman Catholic Church sold indulgences. The faithful were told that by making a suitable financial contribution they could shorten their stay in purgatory. There remain those - mostly Protestant now - some of whom appear on the God channels - who encourage giving with promises of rich rewards on earth.

    Paul tells the Corinthians that cheerful WILLING giving compensates for the smallness of a gift due to lack of means. This is something Jesus taught when he singled out the certain poor widow who in giving her two, small, copper coins gave all she had to give and by so doing gave more than all the rich people. See exposition on Luke21v1to4.

    (D) The indispensability of generosity.

    But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving. v7.

    There was no question in Paul's mind that the Corinthians possessed certain valuable qualities like:

    (1) Faith. They needed a strong faith to withstand opposition and persecution of which there was plenty in Corinth.

    (2) Earnestness. The believers in Corinth took Christianity seriously. They were enthusiastic for worship and evangelism.

    (3) Spiritual gifts. There was no shortage of preachers and teachers in the church. If anything there were too many!

    (4) Personal devotion to himself. Paul had finally been reassured of their love for him.

    However these many assets were not sufficient. Paul urged them: See that you also excel in the grace of giving.

    The Corinthians were deficient in the virtue that matters above all others - love. Factions existed, they were taking each other to court, there was no concern for the weaker brother, the rich ate before the arrival of the poor to avoid sharing food with them, worship was disorderly and the women unruly. Paul had to write to them about the supremacy of love and the importance of generosity.

    There are churches where the members are collectively strong in the faith, very zealous against error, knowledgeable and gifted, devoted to their pastor BUT not concerned about those outside their own fellowship. They do not want the money they give each week donated to other churches or causes. It is earmarked for their own work and only their own work.

    (E) The purpose of generosity.

    Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but their might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. vs13and14.

    This is a pointed, challenging and much neglected passage. I have never heard a sermon on these words of Paul and in days when big churches get bigger and small churches get smaller the apostle's teaching is widely ignored.

    The purpose of generosity is to:

    (1) Spread the cost of service.

    When a man gives up a well paid job to be a missionary or pastor he shouldn't be the one to shoulder the entire cost. In the past - although things have improved - Grace Baptist pastors were expected to make a financial sacrifice. The ordinary members did not see fit to share it with them. Paul teaches that this is wrong. Giving is a way of evening things up - ariving at something approaching equality.

    (2) Enrich others.

    Financial support is one way of showing you care. It shows solidarity in the work of the gospel.

    (3) Insure against deprivation.

    Paul said that a prosperous church should give because a day may come when it falls on hard times; then the church that was generous in prosperity can expect support from those fellowships it previously helped.

    The concept of thriving churches helping causes in need with money or personnel is not overwhelmingly evident today as big churches get bigger and small churches get smaller. Indeed the trend is for the big churches to gobble up the resources of the little churches. Young people leave the small fellowships for all the benefits of belonging to large organisations.

    This is the VERY OPPOSITE of what Paul said should happen. He said the big and prosperous churches should share their resources so that there might be equality. Many successful churches glory in their success and have no intention whatsoever of pouring resources into small and struggling causes. Yet this is God's will as Paul's reference to the miracle of the manna indicates. God is not happy with greed of any sort; he just wants everyone to have enough.

    ANY COMMENTS FOR JOHN REED: E-mail jfmreed@talktalk.net

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