A joyful heart + A cheerful giver = A demonstration of God’s love.  Do the math. If we promise an offering then we must follow through as God directs.  Even when pushed to the limits, the outpouring of generosity from the Macedonian churches for the relief of the poor in Jerusalem came from hearts of pure love for God and others. 

Love God.  Love Others.  These two greatest commands of God, according to Jesus, are the foundation for all other commands of God.  It is God’s love that breeds our generosity from gratitude for all that God did to save us through His Son, Jesus.  God’s love is unlike any other love the world can muster.  His love in us compels us to love Him back once we realize all He has done for us.  God designed us with a longing for His love so we are not fully satisfied until we know God who is love. (See 1 John 4)

God’s love drives us back to Him, the One and Only God, who created all, owns all, and is in all.  God then gave His One and Only Son to save all!  It is no wonder that when believers truly realize all that God has done; we beg for ways to give back what God has given to us to help others know God and His love.

2 Corinthians 8, The Message

The Offering

^1-4 Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

^5-7 This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That’s what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you’re articulate, you’re insightful, you’re passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too.

^8-9 I’m not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians’ enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.

^10-20 So here’s what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart’s been in the right place all along. You’ve got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can’t. The heart regulates the hands. This isn’t so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you’re shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written,

Nothing left over to the one with the most,
Nothing lacking to the one with the least.

I thank God for giving Titus the same devoted concern for you that I have. He was most considerate of how we felt, but his eagerness to go to you and help out with this relief offering is his own idea. We’re sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message. But there’s far more to him than popularity. He’s rock-solid trustworthy. The churches handpicked him to go with us as we travel about doing this work of sharing God’s gifts to honor God as well as we can, taking every precaution against scandal.

^20-22 We don’t want anyone suspecting us of taking one penny of this money for ourselves. We’re being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God. That’s why we’re sending another trusted friend along. He’s proved his dependability many times over, and carries on as energetically as the day he started. He’s heard much about you, and liked what he’s heard—so much so that he can’t wait to get there.

^23-24 I don’t need to say anything further about Titus. We’ve been close associates in this work of serving you for a long time. The brothers who travel with him are delegates from churches, a real credit to Christ. Show them what you’re made of, the love I’ve been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul expressed confidence in the Corinthian church. He asked them to complete their collection for the Jerusalem church, which they had promised a year before.  “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver,” –with an attitude of gratitude.  (2 Corinthians 9:7) 

Paul gave the Corinthians two examples of generous giving: the Macedonian churches and Christ. We should give according to our abilities, voluntarily and generously. God gives to us so that we can share with others. Paul encourages the believers that the power they have in God is stronger than Satan’s power.

We will have many tests and financial trials that will cause us to think twice about our giving.  So, always ask for God’s wisdom and guidance in giving.  We step out in faith by God’s wisdom to give out of what God has given to us to manage.  Paul gives good advice to the people as they decide how and what to give: ^“Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.” 2 Corinthians 8:12.

We need to avoid making a show of our giving at all costs!  I am reminded of Jesus’ observation of the poor widow who “two mites” quietly while others gave coins that crashed into the vessel to draw attention to themselves.  “Look at me” offerings are not acceptable to God according to Jesus.  “’Truly I tell you,’ He said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’”—Jesus, Luke 21-3-4, NIV

Giving shows unity of God’s purposes.  Paul had other blessings in mind besides the material assisting of the poor. He wanted this offering to strengthen the unity of the church as the Gentile churches shared with the Jewish congregations across the sea.

Giving because of the grace of God.  The Macedonians gave enthusiastically. Their giving was voluntary and spontaneous. It was because of grace, not pressure. They gave because they wanted to give and because they had experienced the grace of God. Grace not only frees us from our sins, but it frees us from ourselves. The grace of God  opens our hearts and our hands. Our giving is not the result of cold calculation, but of warmhearted jubilation!

Do the math once more:  A joyful heart + A cheerful giver = A demonstration of God’s love. 

Lord,

Thank you for the gift of giving instilled into our being as growing believers who are redeemed.  Help us to live joyfully as the redeemed, grateful for your generous gift of salvation.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, change our behaviors, refresh our souls, and restore the joy and peace of you in us and us in you—loving you back and loving others like you love us.

In Jesus Name, Amen