Read
Read 2 Corinthians 8 & 9
Verses chosen for meditation: 2 Corinthians 8: 1 - 4, 5, 7, 9, 16 - 21, 9: 6 - 8, 12, 14 - 15 ESV
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. 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.
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.
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 by his poverty might become rich.
16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Reflect
What does grace have to do with giving?
What actually is giving all about?
Are there limits or limitations to giving? Are there also concerns about giving?
Can giving really make us poorer? Did Christ become poorer by giving?
What is the discipleship aspect of giving?
Relate
We may ask, "What's grace got to do with giving?" Oh yes, grace has got everything to do with it. It's mentioned no fewer than 4 times in the two chapters. Even the last verse of Chapter 9 alludes to grace, referring to the inexpressible gift of God. Grace is simply the free and unmerited favour of God. Or 'charis' in Greek. Or simply 'blessing'.
As James puts it (James 1: 17), 'Every good and perfect gift is from the Lord.' This includes our finances, which most of us would deem as a good thing. It then becomes perfect when we view it from God's perspective.
"Once you see the matter of giving is centered in this lovely word grace, it lifts the whole act away from mechanics, from pressure and duty, from obligation and mere legalism. It
lifts us up into the most lovely atmosphere of an activity which seeks by giving to convey to others all that is lovely, all that is beautiful, all that is good, and all that is glorious. What a lovely word this word is... For there is no area in the Christian life in which grace shines out so much, so beautifully, so delightfully, and so happily as when giving comes from the background of poverty." (Redpath)
Giving, for all intents and purposes, is an expression. An expression, which goes a long way. An act in response to a need, whether perceived or real, solicited or unsolicited. Something triggers that response. Often, it's not just need alone.
Giving pleases God. He delights in neither the gift nor the act, but the giver, for he loves a cheerful giver. Giving is after all his modus operandi. He gave his only begotten Son and has not stopped giving. The day that he stops giving will be a tragedy of unimaginable consequences.
As to limits, there're no limits when it comes to giving. It's been demonstrated by God himself by the giving of his only beloved son. There're no limitations either. Despite being poor, the widow gave her two mites' worth of offering (Mark 12: 42 - 44). The common denominator in both of these cases is that they gave their all. It's not a matter of absolute amount, but of the value of their offering. In other words, it's a matter of the heart. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6: 21).
"The example of the Macedonians is practical proof that true generosity is not only the prerogative of those who enjoy an adequacy of means. The most genuine liberality is frequently displayed by those who have least to give. Christian giving is estimated in terms not of quantity but of sacrifice.' (Hughes)
Concerning the conduct of giving, it's not only a test of sincerity and trustworthiness on the part of the giver, but equally a test of integrity and trustworthiness on the part of the recipient since any collection or funding can be misappropriated. Such act of dishonesty was not unheard of in Paul's days. To ensure that the handling of the collection was above board, Paul entrusted the matter to trustworthy men, those of good standing. This was necessary as any hint of dishonesty could derail the whole process and purpose of the collection, not to mention undermine Paul's own witness.
It is true that we can actually get poorer by giving. We may even regret doing so. I've heard of stories of elderly folks being coerced into giving their flats to their children, only to be mistreated after the transaction is completed. This is no different from modern day scams.
But we're not talking of scams or fraudulent transactions here. As far as testimony goes, I've not heard of anyone becoming poorer as a result of giving too much. On the contrary, I've heard of testimonies of the faithfulness of God, of how he provided in the most unexpected of ways. The experience itself would leave an indelible mark on their memory, enriching their lives as they appreciate the providence of God. It's much like the sand on the seashore, which doesn't get any less each time the waves scoop some away. Or the waterfall, which doesn't stop falling day in and day out. A giver is thus likened here to a person throwing seeds into the ground. The seeds grow into fruit trees or rice stalks. These are of far greater value than if the seeds were left on their own.
In the same manner, Christ did not become poorer. He chose to be poor for our sake so that he could live among us. But look at him now. He's nowhere near the poor state that he was in. He's even inviting us to be co - heirs with him. Which poor man talks that way? Besides, would we have known him if not for what he had done for us? Now, multiply all that by the number of people who called him, who are calling him, and who will be calling him 'Lord'.
Giving is therefore integral to discipleship. It is an expression of gratitude, which is worship. It reaches out, which is witness. It is an act of faith, which is trust and obedience. It entreats God's favour, which is prayer. Giving is also biblical, which is according to the word.
Finally, giving is love, not just in words, but in deeds.
Rest
Lord, you are the giver par excellence. From the giving of your son, our Lord, we learn so much about giving and how far we're lagging behind you.. Through it, we learn, too, about grace. How amazing is your grace towards us. May we then abound in good works as we abound with your grace.
Naville Chia
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