Tag: Devotion

2 Corinthians 8:11 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.

The Corinthian church was first to express the willingness to contribute to the support of the saints’ needs in Jerusalem. However, it’s been a year since and the work was not completed. Other churches are done with their contribution.

The Apostle Paul is nudging them on to the completion of it. He is urging them to not hesitate but be forthcoming in this good work. And this contribution should be according to the resources they have with them and not pledging their future income, which is not certain.

2 Corinthians 8:10 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.

The church in Corinth had begun a year ago to raise the funds to support the needy Christians in Jerusalem. The task that began was yet completed. The Apostle Paul writes here to encourage them to complete this good work. The churches in Macedonia have completed their part in the giving although they began later.

It is interesting that the Apostle Paul would make such an appeal. His reason is that it is spiritually profitable to the Corinthian church, this is the meaning of the word “expedient”. He reminded them, it is you, yourselves, who began this. It is to your credit that you would complete it. The Lord will be pleased.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Romans 15:1-2 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

2 Corinthians 8:9 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.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is highlighted by the Apostle Paul as our example. Christ gave Himself for us. As the God of heaven, Jesus put aside His glory to become a man and to suffer as a man so as to save sinful man and reconcile him to a holy God. Jesus gave everything, He is the most generous of all man who walked on earth.

He was so generous that He gave all He had for our sakes that we through His poverty might become eternally rich. [MacDonald]

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;