2nd Corinthians 8:1-5 | An Example of Generous Giving
We’re there in 2nd Corinthians. We’ve been making our way through this book and we’re going to enter into a new section of this book now. The next 2 chapters, chapters 8 and 9, have to do with a very unique theme. It is all about a special offering that the Apostle Paul is gathering and getting together for the saints in Jerusalem.
2nd Corinthians 8:1 “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.”. What the Apostle Paul is going to do in this chapter is he is going to speak to the Church of Corinth about other Churches in Macedonia. He is using them as an example of Churches that had given generously to the special offering, to the work of the lord. Then at the latter part of this chapter, he gives the Church at Corinth an exhortation on being generous givers to this offering. In chapter nine he continues on with that theme,
I would like you to notice something really quickly. Go to Romans 15. There is this small theme throughout the New Testament of Paul taking up a special offering for the believers in Jerusalem. He bring in up in the Book of Philippians as that is one of the Churches in Macedonia he is referencing. He also brings it up in Romans 15. Romans 15:25 “25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”. There is this theme in the gospels about the Apostle Paul who orchestrated and organized this special offering that was going to be given to the poor saints in Jerusalem. If you remember in the book of Acts, he talked about how all believers had things common and were selling their land. Barnabas sold his land and people were donating money because of the amount of persecution and what was happening to the believers. This is the theme of the Apostle Paul’s special offering that we are going to be talking about in chapters 8 & 9.
Let me just go ahead and make this point for those of you that have not made this connection already. It’s very interesting to me that as we are traveling through the book of second Corinthians, we find ourselves in chapter number eight which has enough verses in it that will allow me or require me to preach two sermons. Chapter nine is a shorter chapter so I’ll be able to cover it in one chapter. This means that we have 3 weeks’ worth of material regarding special offering and it happens to land 3 weeks before we take our Vision Offering on March 27th. You might think that your Pastor orchestrated that together. I appreciate you thinking that I am that smart. However, I had no idea that we would land in this chapter right at this timing. The take away from this is that what God wants us to learn, God wants us to apply to our lives. So we’re going to spend the next several weeks learning about this idea of giving, being generous and having liberality specifically in regards to a special offering.
In Romans 15, Paul talked about the Churches of Macedonia and Achaia. Next week we will talk about why he is bringing them up. He is using them as an example. 2nd Corinthians 8:1 “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.”. For the next several verses what the Apostle Paul does is he uses the Church of Macedonia as an example of a Church that is practicing generous giving. He uses some things that I believe can be an encouragement to us.
There are 4 things that the Apostle Paul points out to us about these Churches in Macedonia and how they serve as an example of generous giving. Number 1 – They sacrifice. It’s very interesting to me because in verse two you see a phrase that is counter-intuitive. It says “how that in a great trial”. Does that sound positive or negative? That does not sound positive. He says “in a great trial of affliction”. That is negative. But then he says “the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty.”. The first thing that I want you to notice is that you can have joy while in poverty. The members of these Churches did not have a lot in terms of material wealth but he states they had an abundance of joy. I want you to notice that the Bible teaches that you can have joy and poverty.
In fact the Bible takes it a step further. Go to Ecclesiastes 5. The Bible teaches something that the entire world teaches the opposite of whether they do it verbally and actually communicate this or whether they just do it by the way that the world and society teaches us to live. The world teaches you via billboards, YouTube, radio, advertisements that things will make you happy, money will make you happy, material good will make you happy. The Bible teaches the opposite.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 “10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”. No matter how much money you have, you’ll never have enough. No matter how many goods you have, you’ll never have enough. No matter how updated your phone is, there will always be another one coming out. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. The truth is that you can have a lot of money and not be happy. In fact, some of the most miserable people in this world have all sorts of worldly goods. The lesson is that money can’t make you happy. What we learn from the Church in Macedonia is that you can have abounding joy with deep poverty.
Sometimes people will be generous and ask me if they can buy me a gift for my birthday. I appreciate that and I’m not criticizing that at all. I think that’s very generous when people do that. Please understand, I’m not trying to sound hyper spiritual. I’m a sinner just like you are. However, when people ask me that question, what I think is “You can’t buy what I want.”. Because the thing I want is for backslidden Church members to get right with God, Church members who don’t go soulwinning to start soulwinning, Church members who don’t attend all of the Church services to start attending them, Church members who don’t have a daily devotional time with the Lord to develop it, for all of us to be able to raise children who love the Lord. There are lots of things I want but none of those things can be purchased at the store. They can’t be ordered on Amazon or brought in a UPS truck. The world told us that you can buy happiness but the truth is that the most important things in this world can’t be bought with money. The most valuable things in the world are also free.
2nd Corinthians 6:10 “10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”. See, you might look at the Church of Macedonia and say they have nothing. However, they would have said that they had everything. We might think they have nothing nice but they would think that they have everything that they need. We might think they don’t have anything of value but they would think that they have the things of most value. Why is that? Because you can have joy in poverty. The Devil says that you can’t be content if you are poor but he is lying. Now of course people are poor for different reasons. However, you can work hard, serve the Lord, be good with finances and you still find yourself poor. Don’t worry about that. You can be happy in poverty.
2nd Corinthians 8:2 “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.”. Please understand something. We are living at a time where we may be on the brink of a World War. We are told that our economy could collapse and things could get very difficult for us financially. I hope it doesn’t happen. I pray it doesn’t happen. However, if your quality of joy is determined by the stock market or inflation then you are trying to be content in the wrong thing. The Bible teaches that you can have joy while living in poverty.
The other lie is that you can’t be generous while in poverty. The Apostle Paul teaches that not only can you have joy in poverty but you can be generous in poverty. 2nd Corinthians 8:2 “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.”. The word liberality means generosity. In our modern day, we might think of liberal as a negative thing when we think of liberal politicians. The problem is that they are generous with other people’s money. The Bible is talking about being generous with your own money.
I want you to notice the wording here in verse 2. “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.”. Notice the word “abundance”. It’s referring to our bank accounts, our investments, our 401K. These words are used as a dichotomy. You have abundance and deep poverty. How do you get abundance of joy? The Bible says that the Holy Spirit gives joy. We should find our joy in the Lord Jesus Christ. When the abundance of joy comes face to face with their deep poverty, what wins? Here is what wins. “…the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. “.
See, the average Christians says that they want to give but they don’t have enough money to give. However, that is not what Paul said about the Church here in Macedonia. Here we see that the abundance of their joy beat out their deep poverty. See, it’s a big fat lie that you can’t be generous if you are in poverty. You say “Pastor, why are you preaching this?”. I am preaching this because we are going verse by verse through 2nd Corinthians. Let me tell you something. Generosity has nothing to do with your financial ability. Why? Because generous people will be generous no matter what their financial ability is. People say “If I won the lottery, I would give this much money as a donation.”. No you wouldn’t. Generosity has nothing to do with your financial ability. You can be generous while in poverty and you can be happy while in poverty.
Luke 21:1 “And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.”. 2 mites is not very much money. Luke 21:3 “3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”. “Penury” is a word that means “deep poverty”. See, the truth is that you can have joy while in poverty and you can be generous while in poverty.
The interesting thing is that if you live in America in 2022, none of this applies to you. You’re the richest people in the world. The poorest person in America still rates as one of the richest people in comparison to the rest of the world. We tend to think we live in poverty and we don’t have much. I’m just here to tell you not to allow financial trouble to prevent you from having you or to prevent you from being generous. You can be poor and also joyful and generous at the same time. In fact, this woman is probably the most famous giver in the Bible and she is not very financially well off.
Realize by the world’s standards, we are rich. The Bible tells us to be content with food and raiment. Since you have above that, then you are doing pretty well. Let me show you what God says to those that are rich. 1st Timothy 6:17 “17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;”. Don’t ever forget the fact that everything you have came from God, every perfect and good gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights.
1st Timothy 6:18 “18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;”. The word “communicate” there is referring to the same word that we would maybe use as “commune” or in a negative sense like communism. We’re ready to give to share. He isn’t saying that we should be forced to do this like communism. Why should we be willing to distribute or communicate? Here’s why. 1st Timothy 6:19 “19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”. The truth is that you can’t take anything with you. Job said “Naked came I into this world and naked shall I return thither.”. There is nothing that you can take with you to the next life but there is something that you can send ahead of time.
Why would I want to do good? Why would I want to be ready to distribute? Why would I want to be willing to communicate? Here’s why. “laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come…”. There was a famous martyred missionary, Jim Elliott, who said these words. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”. The truth is that these Macedonian Christians were an example of generous giving. Why? Because they sacrificed. Because even while in deep poverty they learned how to have joy and even in deep poverty they learned how to give.
History tells us that this area of Macedonia was actually a very rich are at one point. There was a famous king called Philip of Macedonia who had developed this area, did a lot of mining, there were a lot of silver and precious metals in that area. He developed a kingdom that was very powerful. As a result of this, King Philip of Macedonia had a very famous son named Alexander the Great. Philip used the riches of Macedonia to finance his campaigns. Alexander the Great had virtually conquered the world in his 30s and he was able to finance this from the gold and precious metals in Macedon leaving it bare. By the time we get into the 1st century of the New Testament, the area of Macedonia is now a very poor area. This is similar to how Detroit used to be a city with a big industry and success and now it has gone by the wayside.
I want you to notice the second reason why they were an example of generous giving. The first reason is because they sacrificed. The 2nd reason is because they stretched themselves. They sacrificed and they stretched themselves. What does that mean? It means they extended themselves. 2nd Corinthians 8:3 “3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;”. He’s referring to the fact that they were willing to give. Now let me explain what it means by “beyond their power”. I don’t think that means that they gave what they don’t have. Sometimes these tv preacher will tell you to get in debt by giving to God and give money you don’t have. I don’t believe that is what this means.
2nd Corinthians 8:12 “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.”. According to this verse, God does not expect you to give what you don’t have. God expects you to have a willing mind and a ready heart. On March 27th when we have our annual Vision Offering, I hope we have 100% participation. I think everybody should give and get involved in the work of God. Don’t give you rent money or grocery money. He isn’t saying give what you don’t have. What does it mean “beyond their power”? I think it means to give what you feel comfortable with that doesn’t hurt you. Then for the “beyond their power”, I think it means give where it hurts a little and makes you feel a little uncomfortable.
Some of you might say that you could only give $5 and feel comfortable with it. Some of you could give $500 or $5,000 without it hurting at all. However, the Bible tells us not to stop there. They stretched themselves a little bit. They extended themselves. They went beyond their power. They gave what they were able to and then they gave a little more that they could afford but it might require some changes. Maybe they could stop to get coffee every day. It might mean you have to cut back in some ways. What is special about this Church in Macedonia is that they sacrificed and they also stretched themselves. They extended themselves beyond their power. This is a theme when it comes to giving in the Bible. In 1st Chronicles 29, we have the story of David taking a big offering for the temple in the Old Testament. By the way, sometimes people say that you shouldn’t preach or have any special offerings. Have you not read your Bible? All throughout the Bible they take special offerings for the tabernacle, for the temple. Special offerings are a common thing throughout the Bible.
1st Chronicles 29:3 “3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.”. David is saying that he arranged it so the nation of Israel and the government has provided a lot for the house of God. David is letting us know that he isn’t just a politician looking to get money for the government. He says that he has set his affection to the house of his God. He said “over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.”. David says that he stretched himself.
Our Church is a very generous Church. I’ll be honest with you, for the last 11 years, we have not had financial struggles. We have had months where we were careful with our expenses but the Lord has really blessed us with generous people. We have hard working people that are generous with the money God has blessed them with. However, here is a concern I have. My concern on March 27th for the Vision Offering is that we sacrifice but we don’t stretch ourselves. If we have money then it can be easy to give some of it but it’s difficult to stretch yourself to where it feels a bit uncomfortable and hurts a little bit.
What was so special with the Churches in Macedonia? They sacrificed. They stretched themselves. Thirdly, they were sincere. 2nd Corinthians 8:2 “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;”. Throughout the Bible, offerings were hinged on the idea of being “free will” offerings. I’ll continue to say that we don’t want grumpy money on March 27th. We have a big goal for this offering but I’d rather have everyone who gives to be a joyful given than to reach a goal because you felt manipulated or guilted. We want happy money.
2nd Corinthians 8:4 “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 word “entreaty” means to make an earnest request. What is this verse referring to? Apparently that even though Paul was asking the Church of Corinth for money for this special offering, when Paul showed up the area of Macedonia and looked around at the deep poverty, he didn’t even ask them to give or bring it up to them. Paul shows up to Philippi. Paul shows up to Achaia. However, when Paul shows up to Macedonia, he doesn’t even bring up the fact that there’s a special offering for the saints at Jerusalem. These were people that were not being asked to give or preach about it like I am preaching about it these next 3 weeks.
Go to Romans 15. Romans 15:25 “25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”. Why do these poor Churches want to sacrifice and stretch themselves to give to the Church of Jerusalem? Here’s why. They were generous because they were grateful. Look at verse 27 “27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.”. It pleased those Churches to give. What’s going on is that the Churches of Macedonia are saying that if it weren’t for the Church in Jerusalem, they would all be dying and going to hell. If it weren’t for the Church at Jerusalem, there would be no Church of Corinth or Church of Macedonia or Church of Ephesus or Church of Philippi or Church of Galatia.
Romans 15:27 “27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.”. It’s saying that helping them out physically for the investment into us spiritually is the least we can do. 1st Corinthians 9:11 “11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”. See, the Church in Macedonia were very sincere. They were very generous because they’re very grateful. They realized that they didn’t have a lot financially but wanted to extend themselves about their own power in order to help. Why? Since an investment was made into them spiritually, they felt an obligation to help out physically or financially with the poor saints.
Let me ask you a question. I don’t want to make any assumptions. I do want to make this point. If you have been blessed by the ministry of Verity Baptist Church, if this Church has helped you spiritually, if this ministry has allowed you to develop lifelong friendships, if this ministry has helped you to grow in the Lord and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, if this Church has changed the trajectory of your life, if as a result of this ministry there has been any sort of spiritual growth and investment, if your marriage has gotten better, if you’ve become a better husband or a father or a wife or a mother or an employee, would you consider being grateful enough that if we have been partakers of their spiritual things that maybe you could minister unto this Church in the carnal things? See, the Churches in Macedonia looked at the spiritual contribution that the Church in Jerusalem made and felt the obligation to help in the carnal or financial things of the Church of Jerusalem. They had gratitude.
Why was the Church of Macedonia such a good example? Number 1 – They sacrificed. They had a joy while being in poverty. Number 2 – They stretched themselves. They extended themselves to their power and beyond their power, above and beyond they gave till it hurt. They gave till they could feel it. Number 3 – They were sincere. Why were they still exciting about giving? Their generosity was connected to their gratitude. They said if they have ministered unto us in spiritual things then our duty is to minister unto them in the carnal things. Number 4 – They surrendered themselves.
2nd Corinthians 8:5 “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.”. When he says “not as we hoped”, he is referring to the fact that he wasn’t requiring them to give or asking them to give like he was other Churches. What this verse shows us is that you cannot properly financially give to God until you have first given yourself to God. Why were they willing to give money? They had already given themselves or surrendered themselves to the Lord. When you give yourself to the Lord, you realize that everything you have belongs to God. It is your reasonable service.
Matthew 6:21 “21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”. Jesus says that wherever you put your money is where your heart is. If we looked at your bank statement or credit card statement, we could find out where your heart is. It might be Starbucks, it might be Amazon, it might be Costco. What you spend on is what you love. If God were to audit your financial statements, would he find evidence of love for God and the house of God? Jesus said “21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”.
Paul said that they first gave themselves before they gave financially. Here’s what I want you to understand, Paul is using the same concept in reverse. Not only where your treasure is shows where your heart is but where your heart is, that is where your treasure will be also. Why do these people want to give when they have every excuse and reason not to give? Here’s why. Because they had surrendered themselves to the Lord. They first gave their own selves to the Lord.
Here’s the truth. It might not feel like this over these next 3 weeks but we talk about money and preach about money very little at Verity Baptist Church. If someone started coming to our Church the first week of April, it is very likely that they could be here a whole year without hearing money being preached about. The average Church that a lot of people went to would talk about money in some way or another in every service. They could be preaching on marriage and point 5 would be about tithing.
We try to emphasize what God emphasizes and the truth is that God doesn’t emphasize money a lot. Over the 11 years of this Church, God has supplied and met our needs and things have been good financially. I don’t need to preach on money much because God has given us a Church full of people that first gave their own selves to the Lord. I believe if I can help you grow spiritually, help you get sin out of your life, become a better person, become a better Christian, become a better husband, become a better wife, becoming a better father, become a better mother, become a better employee then God will take care of the financial aspect for our Church. If I can help people surrender to God then God will take care of our Church. Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”. Here’s what I know, if God has your heart then your wallet won’t be a problem. They first gave themselves to the Lord because where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.
I’d like to ask you to consider the special vision offering that’s coming up. It just so happens to be that as we’re preaching through this passage of scripture, we have an offering coming up on Sunday March 27th. We are asking it to be a free will offering. We’re not asking you to show up and give your tithe. This is about giving beyond your tithe. We’re asking you to go beyond your power and sacrifice. You say “I’m poor.”. Would you consider stretching yourself? You say “Pastor, I already know how much I’m going to give.”. Let me ask you, does it hurt? Do you feel it? I’m glad if you give what is comfortable to you but are you willing to sacrifice?
If you’re going to sacrifice, are you sincere? Could you honestly look back at what this ministry is and what this Church has done for you and these people have done for you, and have gratitude in your heart? Is their gratitude for the ministry of Verity Baptist Church? Could you say like these people in the Bible that you have been helped spiritually so you will help minister in carnal things?
Check your heart. Are you surrendered? Have you first given yourself unto the Lord? Because honestly I would rather you give yourself to God than put money in an offering plate. We would rather you genuinely offer yourself up, a willing sacrifice to God than to cheaply put corrupt money in an offering plate. However, here’s what I believe. When you surrender yourself to God, where your heart is there will your treasure be also. Will you consider giving on Sunday March 27th to the Vision Offering?
Let’s pray.