In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Paul began by pricking the self-satisfied consciences of Christians at Corinth by lifting up before them the example of the Macedonian churches. The Corinthians thought that spiritually speaking they were the ‘tops’. Worship at Corinth was an exciting experience. But Paul said, ‘You may excel in all kinds of gifts but you have yet to learn the basics in Christian giving. Look at your brothers and sisters in Macedonia.’ (2 Corinthians 8.7)
- They gave from their poverty
In 2 Corinthians 8.2 Paul wrote, “They were extremely generous in their giving, even though they were very poor” (GNB).
We are not sure why the Macedonian Christians were so poor. Probably their poverty was the result of persecution, for Macedonia was a prosperous province, with flourishing agriculture, mining and lumbering industries.
If they were poor for Christ’s sake, then we might well imagine that the Macedonian Christians would have felt that they had already done their bit for Christ.
Instead, their poverty overflowed in a wealth of liberality. The heart which is truly in love with Jesus always finds ways to give even in poverty.
- They gave according to their means (2 Corinthians 8.3 NRSV)
In the words of Paul to the Corinthian church, “I can assure you they gave as much as they could” (GNB)
We know that Paul advocated proportionate giving.
For instance, Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: “Every Sunday each of you must put aside some money, in proportion to what he has earned” (1 Corinthian 16.2).
In turn the Macedonians took Paul seriously about giving. They gave according to their means, in proportion to what they earned.
- They gave beyond their means (NRSV)
And even more than they could (GNB).
They gave their ‘offerings’ which in the Bible are always something over and above the norm.
They gave ‘far more than they could afford’ (The Message).
Paul also emphasised the benefits of giving.
“God”, wrote, Paul, “is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause” (2 Corinthians 9.8). Indeed, Paul went on to say that God multiplies our resources. “God”, he wrote, “who supplies seed to sow and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity” (2 Corinthians 9.10).
As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Be concerned above everything else with the kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. “ (Matthew 6.33 GNB).
Note that God doesn’t promise to give us all the luxuries we might desire; rather he promises to meet our needs.
Our ultimate motivation for giving is found in the grace of God.
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: rich as he was, he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of his poverty (2 Corinthians 8.9)
Here we have one of the profoundest statements about the incarnation. Jesus, the Lord of glory, emptied himself of all that was rightfully his, and became a man. Jesus gave his all, and in giving his all, he has given us everything. No wonder at the end of Paul’s writing about giving, he declared: “Let us thank God for his priceless gift!” (2 Corinthians 9.15 GNB); or as the NRSV puts it, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift”. The grace of God is the ultimate motivation for giving.