2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. Let’s go
2 Corinthians 8:1-6 (NIV)
1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.
On verses 1-6: Paul encourages his church in Corinth to learn from the example of the churches he helped to start in the northern region of Macedonia. How about you? Are you willing to learn from others? Part of following Jesus is being willing to change and learn from the example of others, especially from more mature followers of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)
7 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.
On verse 7: To “excel” means to be exceptionally good at something. As Christians we want to excel — not to be mediocre, or just so so — but to be exceptionally good at the things God has called us to. So whether it’s in the way you serve at church, the way you lead and manage your family, the way you go about your work or studies, or the way you treat others, don’t just aim to get by; aim to excel. For God’s glory, strive for excellence in what you do.
In particular, as Paul encourages the Corinthians, remember to excel in giving. Notice that Paul doesn’t call it the “obligation of giving” or the “duty of giving” or the “burden of giving”, but the “grace of giving”. In other words, that we can give financially to help others and to build Jesus’ church is not a duty or a burden; it’s an undeserved honour and privilege given to us by God. Giving is an opportunity to show God’s love to others. Let’s not take that grace for granted.
Since your money is representative of your time and energy, the most practical way to lay down your life (or to share it with others) is to give financially. May you excel in the grace of giving, and in this way share the love of Christ with others.
2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (NIV)
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
9 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.
On verses 8-9: I like how Pastor Jon Courson puts it. He says Jesus was born in a borrowed cradle, preached from a borrowed boat, rode on a borrowed donkey to Jerusalem, used a borrowed room to eat his last supper, and was buried in a borrowed grave. The One who made everything gave it all up for us so that we could have everything.
2 Corinthians 8:10-12 (NIV)
10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
On verses 10-12: In verse 11, Paul is saying, “You said you want to do it (giving to others, that is), so do it.” Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you are spiritually mature just because you want to do certain spiritual things or believe certain spiritual truths. As James 1:23 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” That’s where the blessing is: you are blessed when you act in faith on what you believe and hear from God’s Word. The blessing comes not just when you say you want to do something, but when you actually do it. What is something from God’s Word that you say you are eager to do, but have still yet to do? If you want to be blessed, don’t just talk about doing it. Do it already!
2 Corinthians 8:13-15 (NIV)
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,
15 as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”
On verses 13-15: Here Paul is reminding his church in Corinth to have a heart for needy churches outside of their city. That is why he is asking them to help those needy churches financially, knowing that there may very well come a day when the church in Corinth will need the help of other churches. Paul quotes Exodus 16:18 in verse 15 to suggest that this idea of making sure everyone has enough and that no one is selfishly hoarding their resources has always been on God’s heart.
What can we learn from this? Beware becoming so individualistic in your faith that you fail to see how you connect with the rest of the body of Christ and thus have little regard for your church, your church leaders, other Christians and what God is doing in your city and around the world. Remember that you are part of the largest, most diverse family in history and do what you can to invest in what God is doing, both in the city where you are and in those places where you can’t be personally.
Thank You Jesus for giving up everything so that we could have it all. May we excel in giving too. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
