Daily Devotional Friday 17th March 2023

by William Moody

2 Corinthians 8

Encouragement to Give Generously

8:1 We want you to know, brothers,1 about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor2 of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you3—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 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 by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going4 to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending5 the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers6 of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.

Footnotes

[1] 8:1 Or brothers and sisters
[2] 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context
[3] 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us
[4] 8:17 Or he went
[5] 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22
[6] 8:23 Greek apostles

(ESV)

The believers back in Israel were suffering difficult times financially and materially. This may have been due to discrimination and through a time of famine. An offering has been made among the churches in Macedonia who gave generously.

But it appears the church in Corinth has not been part of this giving. Titus has taken it upon himself to go and encourage generosity from the Corinthians in this matter.

This is not just a matter of increasing the needed relief given to the needy believers in Israel, it is about the Corinthians being loving and Christlike in their giving. The believers in Israel needed this giving, but the Corinthian believers needed it as well for their own spiritual good.

Paul speaks of the example of Christ who although being rich, He became poor by coming into this world to complete his work of salvation (v9). Christ’s poverty brings great spiritual riches to God’s people. This should be the great motivation for the Corinthian believers and for us to have a giving and generous nature. In the light of Christ’s giving are you a generous person? Are there ways in which you could be more generous to those in need?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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