2 Corinthians 8:1-9

2 Corinthians 8:1-9  And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.  And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.  So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.  But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

In the above passage,  Paul refers to the Macedonian's generous gift of money to the destitute church in Jerusalem.  The Jerusalem church was going through very difficult times, and the Macedonian church came to their aide by giving money to them.  The Macedonian Christians gave out of their extreme poverty, not out of their wealth.  Their dedication and love for Christ compelled them to give to HIS BODY in Jerusalem.  Paul was very proud of them for their generous gift; now he is beseeching the Corinthians to do likewise, to be generous in their giving regardless of their wealth.  See that you also excel in this grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.  Paul begins this passage with "brothers," a term indicating Christians' family relationship.  Who would stand by and allow a  member of the family go without, to go hungry, to go without shelter?  He is challenging the Corinthians to be real Christians, true members of the body of Christ, not just saying, "I love you," but willing to give sacrificially of their means.  

In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus asked, “Which of these three (priest, Levite, Samaritan) do you think was a neighbor (a brother) to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"  The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."  Jesus told him, "GO AND DO LIKEWISE."  (Luke 10:36-37)  We who are in Christ are brothers and sisters to each other.  We are not autonomous anymore, alone to do our own thing, but we are members of his spiritual body here on Earth.  Because we are enveloped into his Spirit, we should be moved by HIS SPIRIT, not OURS.  In the past I had the privilege of serving on the church board in two different denominations.  And one thing I realized by being on those two boards is that religious ideals and objectives often take a backseat when money issues are discussed.  Grace, mercy, and love, and even vision are sometimes lost when money is on the table.  Many times the room would become exceedingly quiet.  Voices would change, almost as if NOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.  Now this was not completely true, for they were all good Christians, but money-talk seemed to change the demeanor and focus of many meetings.  Now the aspect of praying for sister Jones or starting a new Sunday school class or developing an outreach into the surrounding community seemed to lose their place at the table.  Money appeared to shove everything else aside.  I often wondered during those times, is money what is REALLY IMPORTANT to the church?  Is this the way the body of Christ should think about life?  Is everything else secondary to money?  

I do not want to be excessively negative here, for people of good faith, wonderful Christians, were on those councils, but money-talk sometimes occluded the real purposes of the meeting.  Sometimes money seemed to bring the fleshly part of us to the table.  For all of us, beginning with Cliff Bursch, must be cautious about placing money in front of God's plans.  As we read, the Macedonians gave out of their poverty, they gave out of good hearts, they gave out of faith, they gave cheerfully.  We must also give likewise.  As Christians there will be times we give out of poverty, and times we give out of plenty.  But regardless, our focus should be the same: we give as the Spirit leads us, not just out of compulsion.  WE SHOULD NOT BE MANIPULATED BY OTHERS TO GIVE, BUT WE SHOULD GIVE OUT OF OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST.  Yes, we are brothers and sisters in Christ; we are members of the body of Christ.  We do his will, not ours, not the will of others.  We follow him.  Our spirits should always be attuned to his voice, and his voice is a voice of love and giving because though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.