“A JOURNEY TOWARDS GENEROSITY”

Text: “Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 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. So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways―in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us―I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-7) [NLT]
    
Personal Comments:
     

What would you say that you excel at? As I look back on my life, I can think of many things I used to excel at. I was an average football player. Yes, I played for the BEST high school team in the region, Las Cruces High School! I wrestled several years without loosing a match and, I did go all three years of high school to state competition, where I placed in the top 5 in the javelin. So, I would say that I excelled at wrestling and throwing the javelin. But, that was in my past.
     

As I look at 2 Corinthians 8, I notice that Paul highlights some things that the church in Corinth excelled at: “Since you excel in so many ways―in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us―I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”
     

So, in comparison with this list, what do you excel at? As I review it, I am reminded of just how much work the Lord has to do in me! There is a key ingredient to their success and it’s found in the middle of the passage above: “... their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”

Biblical Background:
     

During his third missionary journey, Paul had collected money for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. The churches in Macedonia- Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea had all given money even though they were poor, and they had sacrificially given more than Paul expected. Although they were poor themselves, they still wanted to help. The amount we give is not as important as why and how we give! God does not want us to give grudgingly. Instead, he wants us to give as these churches did–out of dedication to Christ, love for their fellow believers, the joy of helping those in need, as well as the fact that it was simply the good and right thing to do. How well does your giving measure up to the standards set by the Macedonian churches?          
     

The Kingdom of God spreads through the believers’ concern and eagerness to help others. Here we see several churches joining to help others beyond their own circle of friends and their own city. Explore ways that you might link up with a ministry outside your city, either through your church or through a Christian organization. By joining with other believers to do God’s work, you increase Christian unity and help to grow the Kingdom of God!
    

The Corinthian believers excelled in everything– they had great faith, gifted speakers, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love. Paul wanted them to also be leaders in the area of giving. Giving is a natural response of love. Paul did not order the Corinthians to give, but he encouraged them to prove that their love was really real!  When you love someone, you want to give that person your time and attention and provide for his or her needs. If you refuse to help, your love is not as genuine as you say it is.

Apply:
*How would you define generosity in a single sentence?
*In addition to finances, what are some areas in which believers should demonstrate generous giving?
*How should a Christian use his/her money when it comes to giving to the church and to the poor?
*What insight do you gain from Paul’s instruction to “give from what you have”?
*What person could most benefit from your generosity this week?
*Have you given yourself totally to the Lord yet? If not, don’t wait: do it now!  “... for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.” (v. 5)

Pastor Ruben & Gayla
November 23, 1974