Paul’s great tact with the Corinthians should be noted. Although Paul planned to ask the Corinthians to collect money for the impoverished Jerusalem Christians, he first presented them with an illustration of admirable generosity: the giving of the churches in Macedonia.
Paul praised the Macedonians for their attitude about giving. Apparently, the Macedonians had calculated how much they could give and then tried to exceed that amount. Their giving was far more than what Paul expected. In fact, Paul had been reluctant to ask for money for the Jerusalem Christians. It was the Macedonians who, of their own free will, had begged to be a part of the privilege of sharing in this gift.
The Macedonians’ giving was not motivated by a desire for praise from Paul or others. Their generosity was fundamentally motivated by their desire to serve the Lord. They first dedicated themselves to God and expressed the desire to follow whatever directions God might give them. They gave because they knew they were God’s. Everything they had—even their very souls—were God’s. Knowing this, they devoted themselves to serving Jesus and his Kingdom in any way they could.
The Corinthian church had a great amount of spiritual gifts—they excelled in faith, gifted speakers, knowledge, and love. Paul placed giving alongside other gifts, asking that the Corinthians excel in that ministry as well. Giving is a natural response of Christian love. Paul did not order the Corinthians to give; he encouraged them to prove the sincerity of their love for Christ. When you love someone, you want to help that person. You want to give your time, your attention, and your possessions to enrich that person. If you refuse to help, your love is not as sincere as you say it is.
The Corinthian church—a wealthy church—had pledged a great deal of money, but they had not yet given any of it. Paul was concerned that they might never get around to giving what they had promised, so he gave them two models of generous giving. Paul had given them the first model: the poor Macedonian Christians who had enthusiastically given beyond what they could afford. Then in this verse, Paul gave another model: Jesus himself. Although the Macedonians had shown a great amount of generosity, their sacrifice couldn’t compare with Jesus’ giving of himself. Jesus’ action was the ultimate model for the Corinthians.
Jesus became poor for the Corinthians’ sakes by generously giving up his rights as God and becoming human. He even voluntarily surrendered himself to death on a cross—the most cruel and humiliating death known at that time. Yet by doing so, he made all who believe in him rich. Christians have not only been saved through his self-sacrificial actions, they have also been accepted into God’s family. That means that they have a glorious, eternal inheritance in heaven.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
What stands out to me today from this passage? Several thoughts. Let me list them in bulllet points.
- Your willingness to give cheerfully is more important than the amount you give.
- You should strive always to fulfill your financial commitments.
- If you give to others in need, God will, in turn, help you when you are in need.
- You should give as a response to Christ, not for anything you can get out of it.
- How you give reflects your devotion to Christ.
- Don’t rush into a commitment to give. Evaluate your finances so that you will be able to keep your promise.
- God is more concerned about your attitude in giving than He is with the amount you give.
I have often said that giving is the acid test of our faith. We can say we are devoted to the cause of Christ, yet if our obedience in the area of giving doesn't back up our claims, we are only deceing ourselves.
I wonder sometimes why giving and money is such a touchy subject for Christians. It seems many are easliy offended when the church talks about this subject. Yet, Jesus talked more about money than he did love or heaven or even hell. Jesus knew what we forget - where our treasure is where our heart is.
"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:33-34 (NIV)
I hear peole say - "Pastor, you just don't know how tight our budget is - we can't afford to give." Folks, the best time to start giving is when you have nothing. If you'll be obedient in those circumstances, God will be faithful to provide. He will meet your needs. Giving is an issue of faith, not of abundance.
I challenge you today. Start giving in obedience, by faith and do so biblically - meaning 10%. Watch how God blesses you. I don't know how He will bless you, but He will.
"The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives."
Deuteronomy 14:23 (LB)
"`Bring your whole tithe to My storehouse. Test Me in this.' says the Lord, `and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you won't have room enough for it!'" Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
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