November 10, 2 Corinthians 8-15, 9-6-15
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 favour 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. Accordingly, we urge Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.
But as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you, see that you excel in this act of grace also.
I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.
so that you, by his poverty, might become rich.And in this matter I give my judgment.This benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work, but also to desire to do it.
So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness, your abundance at the present time should supply their need. so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
As it is written, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.The point is this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart. not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.As it is written, he has distributed freely, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever.
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift.
Glorifying God in Giving and Receiving W. Brian Auker How we make or spend money are sensitive subjects.As the second major section in 2 Corinthians, these passages comprise perhaps the most extensive teaching in the Bible on giving.
Paul urges the Corinthians to join with other Gentile believers to complete a collection or act of grace for the poor in Jerusalem.The lessons of these chapters touch upon all resources granted to us by God, whether money, time, or talents.
Challenging life issues may tempt believers to cling to resources for self-preservation, but in giving to others we show that we have first given ourselves to the Lord.
Through the example of giving in the Macedonian churches, Paul challenges the Corinthians to reveal their own love for God by giving.
In giving more than expected, the Macedonian churches had expressed joy amid severe affliction and contributed in spite of their dire economic conditions.
Ultimate motivation for giving flows from the eternal Son of God, who abandoned the status and privilege of his heavenly dwelling to take on human flesh and give himself for his people.
Confronted with sacrifice of this magnitude, one's individual contribution may appear trivial.Remove such thoughts.In light of the decisive sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Paul issues no command nor advocates reckless giving.
Instead, enthusiasm, a joyful heart, and giving in proportion to one's means remain keys to faithful giving. All giving is done under our Lord's watchful eye, and He knows its value.
Paul's concluding instructions return to the importance of motivation over magnitude, since each one must give as he has decided in his heart.Chapter 9, verse 7.Neither resentment nor coercion should accompany acts of generosity.
Generous giving and bounteous reaping come only by remembering God's extravagant provision, expressed with phrases like all grace, all sufficiency, all things, all times, in every good work, and all in one verse.
Such abundant provision enables us to provide generously for others, resulting not in material gain, but rather a harvest of righteousness.Chapter 9, verse 10. The Corinthians' generosity will produce thanksgiving to God.
In supplying the needs of the saints, the Gentile Corinthians confirm to the Jewish Church in Jerusalem the genuineness of their Christian faith.Giving affords a concrete means to express our faith in the gospel.
In response, when God provides for our needs through others, we pray for the giver and give thanks for Jesus Christ, the greatest of all gifts.
God has gifted His church with the incredible blessing of the Bible, His written Word, that we might know Him and grow in our faith in Him.But many Christians around the world simply don't have access to God's Word for themselves.
And that's why Crossway launched the One Million Bibles Initiative, an ambitious project aimed at distributing one million ESV Bibles to believers in need throughout the Global South.
By God's grace, Donors to Crossway have supported the distribution of more than 850,000 Bibles to date.Bibles that have already begun to impact individuals, families, churches, and whole communities.
But we still need your help as we seek to finish this ambitious project.Between now and December 31st, our aim is to raise what we need to fund the final 120,000 Bibles.
Every $4 you give will provide God's word to someone who may have never owned a Bible for themselves before. Would you prayerfully consider helping us to reach this goal, for the good of the global church and the glory of God?
To learn more or donate, visit crossway.org slash 1millionbibles.That's crossway.org slash 1millionbibles.Thanks.
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