2 Cor 8:1-
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SLIDE 2
2 COR 8.1
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
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INTRO:
As you might remember, Corinth was a major city in the southern region of Greece.
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When this letter was written, Greece was divided between the north and the south. The southern region was called Achaia (u-KAY-yuh). Corinth was a prominent city in this region. Like many cities in this region it was economically strong and culturally diverse and profited as vibrant trade hub between many different nations. .
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The northern part of Greece was called Macedonia. This is where Thessalonica, Philippi and Berea were. Macedonia was the former homeland of Alexander The Great, and at one time, was a very powerful and wealthy region.
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However, when the Romans conquered this area, they were excessively harsh to the Macedonians… leaving this once flourishing region, in great poverty.
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The Apostle Paul ministered to both regions. He worked with the churches in the north that endured this unique hardship… and, he worked in the south… with Corinth… a church that did not experience this kind of hardship.
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Surely, both churches would have confessed, that God had shown them grace… but surprisingly… we see that the impact of grace upon the churches that were suffering in poverty, is far greater, than the church that, as Paul says in vs. 7… excels in everything.
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It is one thing to be shown grace… or even to experience grace… but it’s a completely different thing to be changed by grace. It’s a completely different thing to be transformed by grace. it’s a completely different thing, to have grace mobilize you and engage you to live and act sacrificially instead of selfishly.
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in today’s passage, Paul is speaking to a church that has a history of selfishness. These are the same people from the first letter.... But, as we’ve learned in recent chapters… they are also a congregation that has repented. They have received their rebuke and they are making positive changes.
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But Paul desires more for them. He doesn’t want them to simply be a people who are correcting bad behavior. He wants them to be a people who receive grace, who walk in grace, and who are mobilized by grace.
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For the sake of background… Paul is not only ministering to these churches in Greece, but he is also receiving a collection for the church back in Jerusalem. The church there had been scattered by persecution and those who remained suffered great poverty and ongoing opposition.
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So even as churches, like those in Macedonia, suffered their own kind of poverty, they were still willing to bring aid to Jerusalem, knowing, that in spite of their own needs… there were believers elsewhere, who suffered even greater hardships.
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The question always comes up in scenerios like this… “Why, when there is so much need here locally, should we invest to help those who have great need elsewhere?”
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I think the answer can be found in the Great Commission. The church was called to go and make disciples… starting in Jerusalem, into Judea… and unto, the uttermost parts of the earth.
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Beyond the call to make disciples… the Great Commission reminds us… that the church community is not just a local thing. God calls believers to be part of the local church - and yes, we do our part to address needs locally… but also, to reach out beyond its borders… - because the believer 1000 miles away, is just as much a brother and sister… as the believer that sits next to you on Sunday morning.
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Early on, the church had an understanding of this. 900 miles from Jerusalem, Gentile believers responded to the need of JEWISH believers, who were suffering great hardship and poverty in Jerusalem.
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The believers in Macedonia owned this vision. Paul tells us why in verse one. It’s because they were motivated by the grace that had been given to them.
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As of yet, it would appear that the believers in Corinth didn’t own this vision. But Paul wanted them to… so he begins, by sharing the testimony of the Macedonians with them.
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Look at verse one: - “We want you to know...”
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Back in , Corinth was encouraged to set aside a weekly offering for the saints in Jerusalem. The unanswered question is… “Did they actually do that?” -
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Based on the context of these verse, I think Paul must have suspected a lack on their part. For, if the Corinthians were generously setting aside a contribution for Jerusalem, this testimony concerning the Macedonians would not be necessary.
In fact… he’s already asked them back in to set aside a weekly offering for the Jerusalem church. But now… as Titus prepares to come and collect that offering…
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Here is their testimony, from vs. 2…
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SLIDE 3
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
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What Paul is saying here is so contrary to reason and logic. Later in this chapter, he’s going to encourage the Corinthians to supply for the needy out of their abundance. The Corinthian church had an abundance, and from that abundance, the weekly collection was to be given to meet the needs of others… this is found in vs. 14..
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but the Macedonians… they are not giving out of the abundance of their wealth. They are giving out of the abundance of their joy and in the midst of their extreme poverty.
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Their giving was not prompted by the balance of their check books.. instead, it was prompted by the grace of God poured out into their lives.
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SLIDE 4
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
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The Macedonians gave in three ways.... they gave according to their means…This means, that their gift did not constitute big money. They were poor, and they gave according to their poverty.
Secondly: they gave beyond their means… which means… their gift, though small, was the result of great generosity… This phrase literally means… that they gave in a manner that was over and above anything that could be expected , given their situation.
Thirdly.. - they gave of their own accord. - Which means… they gave freely and w/o compulsion. They gave because they wanted to. They owned the vision and willingly gave above and beyond their means.
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A similar testimony is given by Jesus in
SLIDE 5
1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
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SLIDE 6
3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
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The widow gave a very small amount of money. It was so small, that most folks wouldn’t have bothered to pick up 2 mites if they saw them lying on the ground… However… 2 mites was all the money she had in the world. She didn’t even keep one for herself.
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She too… like the Macedonians… gave beyond her ability.
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The rich were giving more money… but the widow was giving from a richer heart, and God esteemed this as being of much greater value.
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Not only did the Macedonians give willingly and above their means… but they begged of Paul earnestly for the favor of taking part in the work.
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This is interesting. Paul encouraged other churches to take a collection… but this statement kind of makes you wonder a bit. - Did Paul not include the Macedonians in the request to take up a collection? - Did Paul refrain from asking them, because of their poverty?
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It looks like this might be the case… because they were the ones who initiated the work. They heard about it, and they wanted to be a part of it. They begged to. They considered it a favor, to let them give generously to the church in Jerusalem.
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There are three important, key words to consider in verse 4.
First word: ‘favor’… which is the familiar Greek word… ‘charis’ which also means ‘grace’. Which means, they considered the ability to give money to the Jerusalem church…an undeserved privilege.
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The second word is from the phrase ‘taking part’… which is also familiar in the Greek: koinonia… - which speaks of communion, fellowship and relationship. - IN this, the Macedonian church recognized that they were a part of the greater church community… and in spite of 900 miles that separated them… they loved the believers in Jerusalem, even w/o knowing them, because they recognized the bond they shared in Christ.
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And thirdly… the word relief… is again… a familiar word… ‘diakonia… which speaks of ministry. This was for them, a service of obedience to honor the Lord.
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These words round out the meaning of church. Ekklessia… is the most common world for church… speaking of a people who congregate together… and it represents our times of corporate worship… like we are doing here, right now… But our church experience is merely ekklessia, we are missing out...
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For the church is more than just a congregation. The church is a community, called to fellowship with one another… which is why koinonia is so important… But a church that congregates and fellowships… that’s not even enough… for we have a mission… we are called to ministry… to ‘diakoinia’… and if we are not serving and reaching out with love, works and compassion… then we are missing out.
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The Macedonia church exemplifies what a well rounded congregation does… and Paul really wanted the Corinthians to be encouraged by this example.
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In vs. 5, Paul expresses his surprise over their gift. It wasn’t what he expected… - He new these churches were poor and so he expected an offering that reflected their poverty… instead, he received a gift that far surpassed his expectation.
5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.
5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
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Now… with this in mind… let me suggest something to you....
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We expect… what makes sense. We expect… what is reasonable. We expect things based on experience and normality. We expect things based on our experience of human nature…
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We look at people we know… and we develop expectations. We have history with people, and we learn their patterns. We learn the extent of their willingness. We learn the motives that drive their decisions. these people meet our expectations…because we have learned what is normal for them. They do things… we are not surprised.
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But, when a believer gives themselves first to the Lord, completely… and they are transformed and mobilized by grace… - They no longer exist in that same realm of expectation. When God takes over in the life of a believer, the patterns change. The willingness to do… changes. The motives are transformed. Sold out, grace transformed believers… defy expectation.
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Those who are significantly impacted by grace… and completely surrendered to the Lord… - will inevitably, step out from that realm of expectation.
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Pastors and church leaders often have these discussions...
How do we disciple people to a place where they are demonstrating spiritual maturity? How do we convince people to re-align their priorities? How do we bring people into a place where their lives demonstrate real worship, prayer, generosity, compassion, and ministry? Once we get them there, how do we keep them there?
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Some leaders want results… and they don’t care how they get them… so they push fear and guilt and manipulation. And they get people to come to prayer meetings and to give and to be at every service…
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But… there is nothing Biblical about this form of motivation. Watching people respond to guilt and manipulation doesn’t surpass expectation.
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The Macedonians were not compelled by guilt. They were not pushed or coerced. They did not take on the call to support Jerusalem through these means. Instead, they heard about the need, and they compelled Paul to let them be a part of the work. Their generosity… surpassed expectation.
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Why did they give generously? Why did they embrace the vision and insist on being part of it?
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Because they truly recognized the grace that was given to them. It amazed them. It was so amazing to them, that they could not remain in a place of mediocrity. They weren’t capable of it. They had seen grace for what it is… and it changed them.
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They saw grace, and had no choice, but to fully and completely surrender their lives into the hands of God.
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And when God has full possession of you, He is not going to do normal mediocre things with you. God is not in the business of normal. God is not in the business of mediocre. God is not in the business of meeting people’s low-bar expectations.
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Listen… this is a challenge to us. It’s a challenge to me.
Are our lives dictated by expectation?
I’m struggling financially, so I shouldn’t give generously to the Lord. -Yes, that makes sense.
I’m busy with a lot of extracurricular stuff, so I shouldn’t make an effort to be in fellowship. -Sure, that makes sense.
I’m too overwhelmed with all the stuff in my life, so I shouldn’t help my neighbor who has a need. - I get it. I’m sure someone else will help them.
I studied the Bible a lot for a time in the past, so I don’t really need to do that anymore. - Because.. sure, you got enough Bible to get by with…
I’ve been disappointed by people too many times, so I won’t receive prayer or counsel. - Of course, why open yourself up to more pain?
I’ve really absorbed the influence of my culture, so I don’t take this Christianity stuff as seriously as I used to. - Christianity is no longer the cool kid on the block.
I’m stuck in my ways, so I’m not going to challenge my beliefs. - That’s right, pride makes sense.
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I’m fair, I’m balanced, I’m reasonable… - I’m… predictable.
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You want to know who took fairness to a new level? You want to know who was generously off balance? Do you want to know who did an unreasonable thing in a purely opulent manner? - THE MACEDONIANS.
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they lived in poverty… but gave with such generosity, that it even defied the expectation of the Apostle.
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Here’s what David Guzik said about this:
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SLIDE 7
IN GIVING, THE REAL ISSUE ISN’T GIVING MONEY. IT IS GIVING OURSELVES TO THE LORD. IF WE REALLY GIVE OURSELVES TO THE LORD, THEN THE RIGHT KIND OF MATERIAL GIVING WILL NATURALLY FOLLOW. - David Guzik
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SLIDE 8
6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
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Titus was coming to Corinth to receiving the money that they had collected. But, at this point, it’s not known whether their gift will meet, or surpass expectation.
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We don’t even know for sure, if they had done what Paul told them to do back in . Maybe they had… maybe they did it for a while. maybe they started… but then, it fell to the wayside and they stopped.
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Whatever the case… they are being encouraged… to complete this act of grace.
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Paul reminds them how reasonable this request is… - He tells them how blessed they are… how they excel in so many ways… He reminds them of how much grace they have received… and how much grace they walk in… .. in faith, in speech, in knowledge and in earnestness....
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God has poured a lot of good stuff into this church. They have received grace. They have experienced grace… but the jury is still out, on whether they have been transformed and mobilized by grace.
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Verse 8 brings home the example of Macedonia… - The Macedonians proved the earnestness of their love in the manner by which they gave. - So Paul points to them, and asks the Corinthians to consider proving the earnestness of their love too.
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This is interesting to note… Paul refers to the act of giving money as a ‘grace’… and he does this 4 times in this chapter.
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If giving is an act of grace… then it has some characteristics we need to consider.
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The ability to give and the heart to give is a free gift from God. .. that is: giving is a work of God’s grace in us. When someone gives out of need or compulsion… that makes sense and meets expectation. But when a believer truly enters into a place of unhindered generosity… then they are demonstrating, that a great work of God has been done in their lives.
If giving is an act of grace.... Our giving should be like God’s giving of grace to us: that is; giving freely, generously, because we want to give.
If giving is an act of grace… Our giving, like God’s grace to us, should be offered w/o expectation of payment in return.
If giving is an act of grace… once you truly see that the act of giving is centered in grace… it lifts the whole act away from the mechanics, from pressure and duty, from obligation and mere legalism.
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Now… I don’t know if you’ve caught on yet… but this message has spoken a lot about giving. Normally, giving is my least favorite thing to talk about..
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But in the context of grace… I find the topic more palatable. - This isn’t me telling you that you should give 10% of your income. The tithe is a beginner principle to make things easy for us… Some people think it’s the ceiling… but really, in New Testament doctrine, if it’s anything… it’s the starting place.
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The New Testament takes the rules of the Old Covenant… and writes them on our hearts. It calls us to not follow the letter of the law… but rather… to follow the heart. - To give as we have purposed in our heart.... (let’s look at that passage)
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SLIDE 9
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
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This the NT law of giving.
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And it forces us to ask a question, that today’s passage answers…
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If we give as we decide in our hearts…
What then does this decision say… about the heart that makes such a decision?
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I suggest… that a heart operating in expectation, will do what makes sense. Something reasonable… something that is not sacrificial… something that is easy...
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But a heart that has been transformed and mobilized by grace… will make a completely different decision. It will make a cheerful decision.
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Lives transformed by grace… do the unexpected.
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And this goes way beyond giving. This goes into every aspect of your life… into your practice of prayer, evangelism, family, rest, worship, study, and devotion.
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We all have received the grace of God.
We all have experienced it…
But maybe… we have not been moved by it. Maybe we haven’t allowed it to change us. Maybe we have not allowed ourselves to recognize how unfathomable and amazing it is.
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I pray… though… that we would.
That we would dwell on this… meditate on it… reflect upon the work of the Gospel on our behalf… think deeply upon the extent of love and sacrifice that went into our redemption… and allow it to change us… into something, unexpected.