The Grace of Giving - April 9

Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 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. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Reflect

How have you been blessed by receiving and how have you been blessed by giving? Which one has blessed your life more? 

In Acts 20:35, the apostle Paul quoted our Lord Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” But this goes against our human nature, doesn’t it? 

Most of us are very inward focused. Honestly, we are often downright selfish. We want to know what’s in it for us. We want to know what we’re going to get out of whatever we put in. We love to just be handed whatever we want. And we certainly don’t want to give away whatever we have. It’s ours!

But God’s Word challenges us to go against our human natures and act out of our new natures instead. We are told to put off our old selves and put on our new selves in Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24). 

On Paul’s third missionary journey, he collected a special offering for poor Jewish Christians in Judea. That meant that Gentiles willingly shared their resources with Jews! That, in and of itself, could only be a result of God transforming hearts and uniting diverse groups of people together in Him. 

In today’s verses, Paul wrote that the churches of Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea) gave generously to this special collection. But, they didn’t give out of their wealth—they gave out of their poverty. Paul called this an act of God’s grace. It had to be God working in their hearts! What else would motivate people to give to the poor when they are poor themselves? 

The Macedonian believers didn’t have an abundance of material possessions but Paul said that they had an abundance of joy amidst extreme poverty that “overflowed in a wealth of generosity.” They were physically poor, but they were not spiritually poor. Because of the grace of God working in their lives, they gave even beyond their means. Paul said they were begging to give and considered it a “favor” just to be a part of giving to the “relief of the saints.” 

Sadly, many Christians today give out of a sense of obligation whenever we pass the plate. But the Macedonian believers considered it an honor and a privilege to contribute whatever they could to help their brothers and sisters in Christ despite their differences. 

Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote: “Giving is truly a ministry and fellowship that helps others, but the motivation must be from the grace of God in the heart…It is a wonderful thing when Christians enter into the grace of giving, when they really believe that giving is more blessed than receiving (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary).”

What about us? Some of us have plenty to spare and some of us are struggling to just get by. Others of us are in real financial need. Regardless, God’s Word challenges us to enter into the grace of giving, where God’s grace shines through us. He gets the glory and we get the joy and privilege of just being a part of it all. 

Respond

Lord, thank You for everything You have given me. Yes, I am thankful for my material possessions but I am even more grateful for the spiritual riches I have in You. Forgive me for the times when I have withheld generosity, especially to my fellow believers. Help me to enter into the grace of giving generously for Your glory alone. Amen. 

Reveal

Giving is an opportunity to reveal the work of God’s grace in our hearts to those around us. Prayerfully consider how you can give generously to someone in Jesus’ name today.