Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

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

The Apostle Paul exhorts the church in Corinth to prove the sincerity of their love by their giving. The Corinthian church had resources by them more than they needed for themselves. Unlike the churches in Macedonia who despite their poverty sacrificially gave.

Indeed, as one observed well, “A rejected opportunity to give is a lost opportunity to receive.”¹ The Corinthian church would have missed out on the Lord’s blessing if they had withheld.

The Apostle Paul is not commanding piety rather gently jolted them on the path to the Lord’s larger blessing.

2 Corinthians 8:7 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.

The Apostle Paul exhorted the church in Corinth to exercise their gift of giving. There are brethren in Jerusalem in need and he is exhorting them to help them. The church in Corinth has the means to do so.

MacDonald observed well, “Since the Corinthians were so outstanding in many ways (and they were), Paul now wants them to excel in the matter of giving. He gives them credit for abounding in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence (earnestness), and in their love for him. In The First Epistle, Paul had commended them for their knowledge and speech. Here he adds several other virtues, doubtless as a result of Titus’ visit.”

2 Corinthians 8:6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

The Apostle Paul sent Titus to jolt the church in Corinth to emulate the exemplary giving of the churches in Macedonia. He has cited their sincere care for the brethren in Jerusalem and sought for the church in Corinth to do likewise. He wanted spiritual fruit to be accrued to their account. He nudged them along the path of devotion to love and good works.

As Amy Carmichael said, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”

2 Corinthians 8:5 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.

“Contributions to the work of the Lord,” says G. Campbell Morgan, “are only valuable as they are the gifts of those who are themselves yielded to God.”

The people of God in Macedonia were sacrificial in their giving because of their consecration toward God. They were walking closely with God obeying and following hard after God.

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 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. 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.

The churches in Macedonia literally pleaded with the Apostle Paul to allow them the joy of giving to the saints in Jerusalem. Knowing the already stretched financial situation of these brethren, the Apostle Paul would not want to burden them further to accept their kind gift. However, they were determined to exercise their stewardship through their giving and asked for the Apostle Paul to accede to their request.

2 Corinthians 8:1-3 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

It was the grace of God that enabled the churches of Macedonia to liberally give despite the great trial of affliction they were under. They did so joyfully. In their deep poverty, they responded to the need of the brethren. How is that possible? They trusted God and are willing to suffer for the sake of their brethren.

Proverbs 15:6a In the house of the righteous is much treasure:

Proverbs 21:20a There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise;

2 Corinthians 8:1-2 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

The churches in Macedonia has been sacrificially giving to help the poor in Jerusalem. Although they were not materially wealthy, they had given liberally for the cause of Christ. The Apostle Paul commended these churches. These churches were going through great affliction yet they were joyful in liberally giving to help other believers. A commendable spirit. It seemed that the collection to the saints in Jerusalem has not been completed, perhaps disrupted in the upheaval in the church in the matter that the Apostle Paul expressed in chapter 7 through his letter. Now there is a need to encourage the church in Corinth so that Titus can complete the collection and the funds can be quickly sent.

The psalmist observed well in Psalm 37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. Indeed, as Jacques Maritain rightly said, “Bread for myself is a material question; bread for my neighbour is a spiritual question.”

2 Corinthians 7:14-16 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

There was a warm reception of Titus at his coming to the church in Corinth. The letter that he carried from the Apostle Paul was well received. The confidence that the Apostle Paul had of their faith in God was not overstated. The fear of God, the reverence for God’s servant was evident to Titus. He confirmed the Apostle Paul’s assessment of their growing faith. There were fruits of repentance shown in their reception of Titus.

I am reminded of the testimony of Zacchaeus after he was saved.