2 Corinthians - Chapter 8

2 Corinthians Chapter 8 - Grace Compels Generosity

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.

Now brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given …

GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense)

.. that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy (which came from Grace) and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality (they we in deep poverty and yet they wanted to give to the ministry because of their exceeding joy).  (they didn’t wait until their financial position improved, the just had to give out of their gratitude for the grace given).

Paul testified, that according to their ability and beyond their ability, they have of their own accord. (it was their idea, Paul was not soliciting anything. They wanted to give…)

… begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in support of the saints (begging us with much urging (they begged to give! With much urging… not willing to take no for an answer or persistent. This is the right attitude of heart when it comes to giving.  Never give out of compulsion or because someone promises you blessings in return..

… the favor of participation…  Why is it a favor to participate?  Because when you give to a ministry, you share in the fruit of the ministry.  God loves a cheerful giver and the rewards are always greater than the gift.  This is why it was a favor to get to participate…

.. not as we had expected, but first gave themselves to the Lord and to us…  They gladly received salvation, grace & mercy by making Jesus Christ their Lord.  Then they volunteered to help.  You can also give of your time.  Serving the ministry in any way possible.  When you dedicated time or effort, God will multiply your time back to you.  Ministries always need volunteers…

Be gracious with your time and money and the Lord who sees what you do we will reward you in ways that only He can…  Man is not capable of giving rewards like God.  It’s awesome!

7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. 

8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 9 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 through His poverty might become rich. 10 I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 

Intro to Outbless Weekly

Thanks for listening to Outbless.com