For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 2 Corinthians 8:3–5 (NLT)
Why is giving so difficult for many Christians? How many times have you heard someone say, “The church is always asking for money”? Many pastors are as reluctant to challenge their people in giving, as their people are in hearing about giving. Contrast these experiences with what Paul said about the Macedonian believers.
He begins by sharing the desperate nature of their circumstances. “They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor.” 2 Corinthians 8:1 (NLT) Wait, we can’t possibly expect people in their circumstances to be givers, can we? We should be taking up a collection for them, not the other way around.
Paul goes on to relate, “but they are also filled with abundant joy, which is overflowed in rich generosity.” 2 Corinthians 8:1b (NLT) It might not make any sense to us. How can a group of people who are being tested, and are experiencing severe poverty experience overflowing joy that resulted in a wealth of generosity?
Paul was using the example of the Macedonian believers to inspire the church in Corinth, and us as well. These were people that went above and beyond. And to top it all, Paul said, “They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift.” What a challenge to us.
How Do They Do It?
Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. Luke 21:2 (NLT)
Economists have offered many theories including supply-side, Keynesian, and Marxist. All of them failed to account for or even understand the economics of the kingdom of God. Only in God’s economy are two small coins worth more than the vast bank accounts of the wealthy.
Could it be that we often fail to see the provision that God wants to supply, because we are hanging on to what we possess. Jesus used the boy’s lunch to feed a vast crowd, but we look at what we possess, and wonder if it’s enough to pay the bills, or last in retirement.
The key to the Macedonians great generosity is found in verse 5. “They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.” When we give ourselves first to the Lord, everything else will flow from there. When these people heard about another group of believers that was in need, they were already positioned to be a blessing. Paul did not need to manipulate them into giving. In fact, they begged him to allow them to participate in the offering.
They did everything in accordance with the will of God. These Macedonians didn’t need to consider what they possessed, or even their lack of possessions. They had already seen that God was more than capable of keeping them and preserving them. Their hearts, their possessions, had already been given to God. When they were touched by the needs of others, giving came easily.
Trust and Obey
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1 (NLT)
Malachi tells us that a failure to bring our tithes and offerings means that we are robbing God of what rightfully belongs to him. Some will claim that this is the old covenant, and we are now under grace and not law, but that is a denial of an eternal principle.
Do we trust God with every aspect of our lives, including our money? We cannot say that we trust God with other aspects of our lives if we do not trust him with our finances. God said:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
Yes, trusting God with our finances is only one aspect of obedience, but it is important. When pastors and teachers fail to remind and encourage their people in this area of obedience, spiritual growth is inhibited. God wants to demonstrate his faithfulness.
Obedience in this area is not an all or nothing proposition. Just as the disciples asked Jesus, “Increase our faith,” we must begin with something. Before long we will see that the tithe is only the baseline. We will learn that we cannot out give God.
Don’t Wait
The Macedonians could have looked at their own circumstances and come to a reasonable conclusion that their present circumstances excluded them from giving to a need in the body of Christ. Instead, they heard about a need, and they responded.
God wants us to take our eyes off of what we have, or don’t have, and put our eyes on him. We may only have a few dollars in our checking account, but God wants to make available to us the resources of the bank of heaven. He challenges us to put him to the test. This isn’t just about money.
There were occasions (Exodus 36:6-7; 2 Chronicles 24:13-14) where God’s people were so generous that they had to be told to stop bringing their gifts and offerings because they had enough. If it happened before, it could happen again.
The Macedonians “begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift…” Can we imagine what would be accomplished for the kingdom of God when more and more of his people approach each day “begging to give?”
Steve Ekeroth