But Do I Have To? - April 11

Read 2 Corinthians 8:8

I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 

Reflect

Throughout Scripture, it is clear that God wants us to freely give to His church and to those in need. Why is giving a right and good thing to do?

Several years ago, I taught 4th grade at a local elementary school. Almost every day, our curriculum required that we send a sheet of math work home. This homework was not intended to go in the gradebook. It was simply an opportunity for the children to practice the math concepts and skills that they were taught that day so that they’d be ready for the test. 

The next day, they were supposed to hand in their homework so that teachers could check them and give them feedback. In theory, this provided both the students and the teachers valuable information before the test. Did they actually understand the material? Were they able to complete the math skills independently? What misunderstandings does the teacher need to address? Who needs some extra help? However, because it didn’t count towards their grade, the question always was: “But do I have to do my math homework?”

In today’s verse, Paul is continuing to urge the believers in Corinth to give generously to a special relief offering that he was taking up for the poor Christians in Judea. He had already used the Macedonian church as an example of gracious giving because they were generous in spite of extreme poverty (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). But the Corinthians had yet to contribute. 

In this verse, Paul made it clear that giving to his special offering was not mandatory. He wasn’t commanding them to contribute. But he was exhorting them to give. When things aren’t compulsory, we sometimes have to persuade people to do what is right and good. It’s as if the Corinthians were acting like the kids with their math homework…but do we have to?

When my students asked this question about their homework, I had to sell them on the fact that doing the work was not only the right thing to do but it was also good for them to do. I don’t know very many kids who wouldn’t benefit from more math practice. I always told them, you don't’ have to, but you get to!

In Paul’s case, he also had to convince the Corinthians that giving generously was both the right thing to do and a good thing to do. So, He explained that giving would prove the sincerity of their love. 

Dr. Warren Wiersbe explained what Paul meant: “Grace giving is an evidence of love—love for Christ, love for God’s servants who have ministered to us, and love for those who have special needs that we are able to meet” (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, New Testament). 

So no, we don’t have to give. But if we put our money where our mouth is, it provides evidence that we actually mean what we say. If we say that we love Christ and His church but we don’t regularly give of our money, what message does that send? If we say that we appreciate our pastors but we never contribute anything, even just a little bit, to a love offering for them, does that ring true? If we say we love our fellow believers and we are aware of a certain need that they have that we are in a position to address, but we choose not to, how genuine does our love seem?

The question shouldn’t be “If I don’t give, will it affect my grade?” Let’s not be guilty of only being motivated by the fear of negative consequences. Offerings are just that, acts of free will and gifts freely offered. No, you don’t have to live generously, but you get to.

Respond

Lord, may the love that I profess for You and for Your church, not just be empty talk. I want to give freely, not because I have to but because I can and I want to. I understand that giving is a privilege, not an obligation. Help me to steward my resources well and in doing so, prove the genuineness of my love for You. Amen. 

Reveal

Because giving often reveals the sincerity of our hearts, prayerfully consider how you can give to someone else today and in doing so, back up the beliefs you profess with your actions.   If you liked this post, let others know!