The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 29

Paul Exhorts the Corinthian Believers to Heart Felt Giving

2 Corinthians 8:1-6 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. (KJV)

Now that Paul was assured (by Titus’ joyous return and report to him) of the Corinthians desire to obey God in every manner within their fellowship, Paul immediately now writes reminding them of their commitment and exhorting them to lay aside the financial support for the saints in Jerusalem that were struggling. Paul had already instructed them on how they were to deal with their money or collections when he wrote this in the first letter to them, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-3)

Likewise, he informed them of the great sacrifice made by the believers in Macedonia who were far less blessed financially themselves in comparison to the Corinthians. Paul declared to them here how the amount given to him from the Macedonian believers was far beyond what he initially was willing to receive, but that in witnessing the overflowing grace (Divine influence upon the heart) coming from these believers, he could not deny them what was on their hearts to do for the impoverished fellow saints in Jerusalem. Paul testified of the liberal and joyful giving of the Macedonian believers to them, not to shame them as he did in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, but only to encourage them to be of the same heart and mind.

Paul wanted them to be blessed with the same abundance of grace and spiritual blessings as the Macedonians, for it was not the Macedonians doing this of their own accord, but it was God the Father exciting, arousing, or creating within them this desire to please Him and trust Him for their living needs (Matthew 6:25-34). Paul again is exhorting and directing them to look upon their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are enduring great hardship with the same love and compassion shown them by our Lord Jesus Christ when he saved them from the deep, dark, depths of depravity (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) and to completely forsake their earlier attitudes and behavior of contending with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul did not need to coerce those in Macedonia to give to their struggling brothers and sisters in Christ and he wanted the Corinthians to respond in kind. The Macedonians were again giving out of the abundance of grace given them by God, but they also were assured of the use of their liberal gift that it was to enrich Christ Body and that gave them much joy and excitement in participation (2 Corinthians 8:3-4). These Macedonian believers had been decimated by the Romans and were tormented with great poverty and grief, but they found extreme gladness in the grace to relieve other fellow believers in their struggles. Paul knew that this testimony to the Corinthians was needed to excite them to the same empathy or understanding that would motivate them to enter into the afflictions being endured by the believers in Jerusalem.

My own personal Note: Giving in Paul’s letters is a grace that we receive from God in order to meet the needs of His Children as He guarantees to do as we heard from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ in Mathew 6:25-34. It appears, in my opinion, that many Churches and Ministries are more focused on giving to the poor unbeliever rather than having non-intrusive or demeaning or shaming methods in place to identify and give financially to the brothers and sisters in Christ Mystical Body who are (like the Jerusalem believers during Paul’s day) struggling mightily to feed and clothe their children. Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…