Part 1
2 Corinthians 8:1-8
This chapter gives the most detailed instructions in the New Testament for a disciple’s giving pattern. The modern Church, especially in North America, is woefully ignorant about the New Testament pattern of giving. This ignorance is, for the most part, the result of a lack of teaching about Biblical stewardship. And what little teaching is done tends to be profoundly bad. Additionally, our giving is bad because we are, as a culture, people, and church, profoundly worldly, loving things and money deeply and passionately. The American dream is that every person should be able to amass for themselves all the wealth and property that their abilities and talents allow. The disciples’ dream is to give away all they can so that fellow disciples are relieved in their hardship and that the least and the lost might hear the gospel. While not perfect opposites, these two credos are on very different ends of the spectrum of understanding of life and wealth.
The Corinthians, like most American churches, were self-convinced of their stellar quality. Paul specifically mentions their abounding in faith, utterances, knowledge, earnestness, and love. There may have been a note of sarcasm in Paul's declaration. But they believed that about themselves, so Paul will play along. Paul calls them to raise their level of giving to that same excellent level. Corinth was wealthy, and the disciples in that community enjoyed economic prosperity. Very likely Corinth was the wealthiest church in the first century. Paul calls for the church to abound in their giving. The word abound is the same word that Jesus used to describe the “abundant life” in John 10:10; it means all around and all over.
How are Christians to be known? By their love! How can we tell that love is real and sincere? By the disciples giving! We could be sure that the Macedonian Christians had a real and sincere love because of their passionate giving. Their giving came out of affliction, joy, and poverty. Macedonia was so poor that Caesar actually reduced taxes for that region. When a tyrant lowers your taxes, you know you are poor. They gave more than they could afford, perhaps even more than Paul may have thought was wise. Their giving was evidence of the priority of God and their love for the church. Now the question looms: what about the Corinthians? We need to also ask, “What About Us?”
“Lord, You are a giver, help me to be like You. AMEN”
Part 2
2 Corinthians 8:9-15
Having shown the Macedonians as an example of a giving people, Paul points out that Christ Himself for the benefit of believers became poor. He became poor in both the comparative and absolute sense. Compared to all the advantages He had before the Incarnation with what He had on Earth in His ministry, Jesus was absolutely poor. Our goal as disciples is to be like our Master. The point is not that we should become poor for the sake of being poor; that in itself has no virtue. But that we should, for the sake of those we love, the body of Christ, be willing to accept and even embrace poverty.
Paul is unwilling to tell the Corinthians how much they should give; that is between each disciple and their Master. Paul does, however, provide some very practical observations or guidelines. First giving needs to be done sooner rather than later. Paul points out that they need to finish their noble project. It is easy to procrastinate and delay a sacrifice. Second giving is based on what we have, not on what we wish we had or wish we could give. There ought to be thanksgiving on the part of the give for the “advantage” of giving. The word “advantage” in verse 10 literally means “collect” or “bring together” and is often translated as “benefit.” Giving ‘brings together’ or is a benefit to the giver. Meaning what is gained by giving is greater than what is surrendered.
This passage also contains the most challenging words about Christian giving and personal economy. In verse 13 Paul calls for equality between Christians. In this verse Paul is not advocating a political economic theory such as socialism or communism. He is advocating open-hearted generosity within the family of God. Because of our conviction of the evils of socialism and the absolute failure of communism and because we love our wealth, we are quick to point out all the failures of those economic systems and how we should not bring that into the church. Paul is not advocating a national or mandated political theory. He is talking about life in the family of God. Our brothers and sisters in Christ on the other side of the world are closer to us than non-believing biological family living near at hand. We would never allow our biological family to go without necessities. But do we feel the same way about the Christian in a distant land? Sacrificial, individual, personal giving to relieve the hardship of Christians by Christians is far too rare. As individuals and as the church, we have spent billions on ourselves but many times only pennies on other believers. Perhaps someday we will be in need, and the seeds of stingy giving will reap the harvest of hardship in our lives. There is a better way to learn the value of generosity.
“Help me Lord, to see the opportunity to share as a great advantage. AMEN”
Part 3
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Paul is drawn next to the intersection of giving and trust. It is impossible for a church to be strong and giving unless there is a confidence in the leaders and their financial administration. The trust or confidence that a giver places in those who will care for or steward the gifts is fundamental. Paul is sending three men to serve in this capacity, and in the choice of these three we see examples of what we need in financial leaders.
First is Titus. Titus’s strength is that he is especially passionate about the ministry of the Corinthian Church, and they know his passion. Besides being a person of excellent character, he was a friend to the church.
Second, Paul is sending a famous brother. We are not certain who this person is, but we can venture a good guess. The strength of this person is that he is highly committed to the propagation of the Gospel. It is shocking how often leaders for church finances are selected primarily because of their skill or familiarity with numbers. This person is so committed to the propagation of the Gospel that he is sort of a celebrity. The best guess is that this is Luke. There is a long-standing and strong tradition that Luke delivered this letter. If Luke's fame is a result of his gospel account he wrote, then this moves the date of the composition of that book to a much earlier date. There is no proof that this earlier date is not the case.
The third person being sent is unknown; the best scholars admit that it is impossible to discern, and some only offer a guess. The strength of this brother is that Paul says of him, “…whom we have often tested and found diligent…” Too often the role of leadership is entrusted to untried leaders. There's a very healthy sense that a leader must “pay their dues.” This is a common theme in scripture but is often ignored in many church leadership decisions. Almost anyone can look good for a short period of time. But the tried-and-true is proven over the long haul.
One final point: the integrity of church finances and of leaders in general is a public matter. In verse 21 Paul says not only in the “sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.” What people can see and what they think about church finance actually does matter, and we are prudent to take that to heart.
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