CHAPTER 8

THE GRACE OF GIVING

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded
unto the riches of their liberality.

Paul had spoken of the "confidence" he had in the church at Corinth
in Chapter 7.
Now, he begins to speak of how his desire that they grow in the grace of GIVING.

Paul uses as an example, the churches of Macedonia: Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.
They suffered "a great trial of affliction."
Yet, their "joy" in the Lord gave impetus to "liberality!"

3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship
of the ministering to the saints.

JOY in the LORD yields POWER to do that which we previously thought we could NOT!
What the churches at Macedonia gave was BEYOND their power, and
could only be attributed to God's power IN them and THROUGH them!

Because of God's mercy and grace, it was the desire of those churches
to join in the "fellowship of the ministering to the saints!"
And they pleaded fervently with Paul to accept the gift and transfer it to
the churches in Judea.

5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

Now, here is a message for ALL Christians!
Not just for giving, but for the BEGINNING of all DOING for the Lord.
They "FIRST gave their own selves to the LORD!"

My friends, salvation comes ONLY by SURRENDER to Jesus as LORD of our lives!

And, continued growth in the Lord comes through continued surrender!
Spiritual growth comes by LEARNING what God would have us DO,
then, DOING those things!

Paul was so excited about what the Macedonian churches had done
that he sent Titus to perhaps "finish" this grace in the church at Corinth!

7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge,
and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

They were growing in:
FAITH - learning to trust God while living in a troubled world;
UTTERANCE - telling others of Christ;
KNOWLEDGE - learning more from the Word of God;
DILIGENCE - purposefully directing their lives to live according to God's will;
and in LOVE -- toward Paul, and those yielding themselves to establishing churches.

Now, Paul asks that they "abound in THIS grace (giving) also!"

THIS grace is not just giving to the church; but is giving for the
purpose of ministering aid to other ministries.

Are YOU giving to the Lord through the church?
If so, are you being diligent to see that part of your giving goes to
aid other ministries?

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others,
and to prove the sincerity of your love.

Paul is not commanding them to do this.
The organization of each local church must decide to do what is right with
the funds made available by the members!!

However, Paul IS using the example of the churches in Macedonia
to EXHORT them, and asking them to SHOW the "sincerity" of their love for
God's ministry through poorer churches.

Each Christian is a MEMBER of the "body of Christ"

As members, we are to coorperatively and conjunctively be
working participants in the organization and action of a local church.
The local church is an organization of the PEOPLE!
It is not to be directed by or controlled by one or a few!
EACH member should be active in determining the actions of the church.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

As members of the church, we are to conduct ourselves as Christ DID and WOULD!
Eph 4:2-3 says,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Jesus WAS and IS: LORD of lords, KING of kings, CREATOR of all, OWNER of all!
Yet, he willingly subjected Himself to the earthly realm for the purpose of
paying (from God to God) the debt we could not pay.
He WILLINGLY became poor, so that you and I can become RICH --
by becoming "sons of God" and "heirs" to ALL that He has!!

Let us then, be willing to do the same for others!

10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before,
not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will,
so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath,
and not according to that he hath not.

Here then is Paul's "advice."
And, it is Godly advice, for it comes from the example of Christ Himself!
Have "readiness" to do God's will, and PERFORM that will!

It does not matter if you have MUCH or LITTLE!
What is given out of a heart that has love for Christ will be ACCEPTED by the Lord!

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want,
that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered
little had no lack.

None of us has more, except by the grace of God!
No one can tell when conditions of the world might bring POORNESS!
Therefore, give in equality, knowing that someday you may also be in NEED!

Giving through the church should not be looked upon as easing one's burdens
at the expense of another.
Instead, it is an act of LOVE!

If we give, expecting nothing in return, we may (at sometime) receive when we are needy.

16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace,
which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things,
but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

Titus was in agreement with the "exhortation", and determined that he would
go and "finish" (complete) the acceptance of their offering.
(Titus was also joined by another "brother", who is unnamed at this time.
This other brother was known among other churches, and was chosen to travel with Paul's company.
And, there was evidence of the confidence in that brother by other churches.)

So, there were TWO, and this would be "avoiding" any controversy of blame
in accepting the offering and transferring it to the appropriate place.
This assures "honest things" in God's sight, and also in man's sight!

Accepting funds, caring for funds in the church should not be the work of ONE!
There should be two or more, insuring that all received and dispursed is HONEST!

23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you:
or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

Some might have desire to question if Titus were the right person for the job.
Paul assures them that Titus is a "partner" in his ministry!
Titus, and the one who accompanied him, were "messengers of the churches,
and the glory of Christ!"

Paul expects the Corinthians to show respect to them, and prove their love for others.
By doing so, they will also approve Paul's boasting of them.

There are many things which we do with the Lord's money in the church.
Each person who is responsible for dispursing such funds should be,
not only a messenger of the church; but should also exhibit being an
AMBASSADOR for Christ!

May EACH Christian realize the importance of giving through the church
for the benifit of others.
May each one who handles those funds be KNOWN as responsible and Christlike!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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