2 Corinthians Week 12

Day 1 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:3-5 

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 

Paul continued to write about the extremely poor in Macedonia. They were not obligated to give, but they gave “of their own free will.” The believers in Jerusalem were being persecuted for their faith and were in desperate need. The principle for all giving is seen in that the Macedonian believers “first action was to give themselves to the Lord.” This honored God. 

REFLECT 

As you consider giving to the Lord’s work, have you first given yourself to the Lord with no reservations? 

RESPOND 

Talk about this with another believer. Discuss how important it is to give voluntarily after first being sure that your lives have been given to the Lord. Determine to do that which honors Him and serve Him willingly as instructed in Colossians 3:23.  

Day 2 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:6-7 

6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 

Titus had been sent back to the Corinthians to urge them to finish what they began with their giving. These believers were excelling in many ways that could make others envious. Paul’s concern was that they would “excel also in this gracious act of giving.” There was no obligation to give; it was to be done willingly and doing so would be considered a “gracious act.”  

REFLECT 

Have you considered your giving to help the Lord’s work to be a “gracious act”? Paul thought it is. 

RESPOND 

Visit with another believer about the various gifts that have been given to believers by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:7 indicates each believer has been given a gift. Romans 12:6-8 enumerates some of these and refers to the gift of giving. Most everyone is able to give some, but the Holy Spirit has given some the gift of giving.  

Day 3 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:8-9 

8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 

Paul emphasized the Corinthian believers were not to give out of obligation. He was not commanding such but was testing them by comparing them to what other believers had done. Paul’s greatest example of giving was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. In His eternal state, Jesus was rich, but He gladly gave up all of that so He could make believers rich. 

REFLECT 

Have you thought of the extremes Jesus experienced from going from His riches in heaven to His poverty on earth? 

RESPOND 

Paul wrote about Jesus’ riches and poverty in Philippians 2:3-11. Jesus is the model of one who was not selfish but acted in love for others. This passage also reveals that if people will not bow to Him in faith in this life, they will be forced to bow to Him as unbelievers in the next life. 

Day 4 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:10-12 

10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 

Paul gave more advice about giving. The Corinthian believers should complete what they had begun. He did not mention a tithe, which is ten percent. The New Testament principle of giving is seen in what he said, “Give in proportion to what you have.” Anything given eagerly would be acceptable. This indicates if it is not given eagerly; it is not acceptable. Some say they would give more if they had more. Paul said to “give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.”  

REFLECT 

Is 2 Corinthians 8 helping you to better understand the New Testament principles of giving? 

RESPOND 

After Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, see what he wrote in Romans 15:23-29 to learn what he said to the Romans about his travel plans. The believers in Macedonia and Achaia (northern and southern Greece) had given eagerly for the poor believers in Jerusalem. The believers had followed Paul’s exhortation to give, and he needed to deliver these offerings in his travels.  

Day 5 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 

13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.” 

Paul instructed balance in the matter of giving. One’s sacrificial giving should not make life easy for others. The Corinthian believers were now better off financially than they were before. They could help others now and when they are in need others may be able to help them. Paul referred to the Old Testament manna in Exodus 16:18 that provided what a person needed but not more than needed.  

REFLECT 

How have you found things to balance out when you have helped others? Were you helped when you were in need? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, consider two passages. One is Ephesians 4:28 and the other is 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Talk about how these passages balance out each other.