The Grace of Giving
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. —2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NIV)
• One of the ways God’s people participate in God’s generosity is through the
• In fact, Paul describes the grace God has given the Macedonian churches as the grace of
• What they
• They gave out of their
• They gave themselves first of all to the
• Generous giving and generous living is first and foremost a
• Faith is spelled,
• Commitment is spelled,
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.9 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 through his poverty might become rich. —2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (NIV)
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross. —Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)
• Generous giving, grace giving, cannot be
• Grace giving flows from a heart of
• Paul says, let this be what
• Let the generosity and grace you have received from Christ be what motivates how you