2 Corinthians 8:1-15

(2 Corinthians 8:1-15)

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; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 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. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 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. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 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.  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. 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.  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. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

 

The apostle Paul already talked about offerings in 1 Corinthians 16 as well. In 1 Corinthians 16:2, 『Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.』

This statement tells in detail the timing and method of "donation". The apostle Paul told them to do it first every time they met “on the first day of the week”. And Paul told them to make their offerings according to their income. It is clearly stated that the purpose of the offering is to help the poor Jerusalem church members. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church members about the donations that the Macedonian church members gave to God.

 

『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 reason that the Macedonian church members gave abundant offerings is that even during tribulations, trials, and poverty, there was overflowing joy in them. It was not because their lives were prospering that the Macedonian church members were able to give generous offerings. It was also not because it was economically relaxed and generous.

 

If so, where did the joy come from? If it wasn't the joy that arises from a worldly point of view because you have reason to be grateful, it will not be from the world. 『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. The source of the joy of the members of the Macedonian Church that Paul said was because of the grace of Jesus Christ.

 

 Paul said three things about the grace of Jesus Christ. First, our Lord Jesus Christ was originally rich. Second, He became poor for us. Third, it has made us rich. Jesus is richer than anyone, but he faced the most desperate poverty. He was born the son of a poor carpenter, Israel under Roman colonial rule, and was laid in an animal manger. Why did the richest become the poorest? The reason is that it is to make the saints rich. This fact was the source of joy for the members of the Macedonian Church.