II Corinthians Study II Corinthians 8:1-24 The Subject of Christian Giving

Having discussed in the first seven chapters on the subject of Christian living, now Paul will deal with the subject of Christian giving in Chapters 8-9.  Paul is really dealing with the collection for the poor saints of Jerusalem.  Beginning in verses 1-2, Paul relates to us that giving is a grace.  He refers to the Macedonian believers as examples in Christian giving.

The Macedonians gave out of their deep poverty.  They did not give out of their abundance, but out of deep poverty.  Moreover, the gift in which they gave was given willingly, for they first gave of themselves (vv. 3-5).  The gift that the Macedonians took up was a grace; thus, it was taken up as a means of sharing of the things of Christ.  As believers today, we should have a deep passion to give of our resources so that the work of Christ would continue.

In verses 6-7, Titus was dispatched to administer the Corinthians’ portion of the collection, and to give them opportunity to excel in this grace of giving.  Paul wanted the Corinthians to excel in giving because giving expresses love (St. John 3:11, 16-18).  Paul desired in verses 8-9, that the Corinthians’ motivation would not stem from external commands.  He wanted the Corinthians’ giving to come about out of love to the Lord.  The real motivation for giving is found in verse 9.

Christ, leaving the palace of glory, came down and took a place of poverty.  He left the stateliness of heaven to dwell down here among the squalor of the earth!  He was rich, but He became poor for you and me!  The one who was rich, who had everything, became poor, expressing His generosity as He paid mankind’s enormous sin debt by giving His life on a cross of shame (Philippians 2:8).  In serving as our substitute for sin, Christ became what we were (poor) so that we would become what He was and is (rich)!  A material offering to Him, would that be too much?

In verses 10-12, Paul admonished the Corinthians to finish what they had begun; thus, they needed to carry through with their pledge.  The Corinthians were to give in commensurate with their means.  A guiding principle for giving among churches is equality (vv. 13-15).  Paul was not wanting some church to have relief while the Corinthians would be burdened.

In verse 15, Paul cited how God dispensed food to the Israelites in the wilderness equally according to their needs (Exodus 16:16-18).  Paul stated in verses 16-17, that he dispatched Titus to get their offering, for Titus was eagerly determined to lend assistance to this project.

In verses 18-21, a highly respected representative would take the Corinthians’ gift to its destination in Jerusalem.  Paul’s motivation in organizing this collection was to honor the Lord.  Paul wanted to avoid bringing reproach on the Lord’s name through charges of mismanagement or avarice (II Corinthians 8:20).

Finally, in verses 22-24, in addition to the previous brother mentioned in verse 18, and Titus, a third brother was appointed to join the collection team.  The honorable team would ensure that there would be no profiting from the collection as it goes to Jerusalem.  In verse 24, the Corinthians would demonstrate the proof of their love by their giving!

May God Bless!