Notes on 2 Corinthians 8

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 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.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

Paul hopes, not to shame, but to inspire the Corinthians by the example of the Macedonian churches, the ones he helped establish in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea. They were not wealthy like the Corinthian church appeared to be, but they gave to the needs of the church in Jerusalem, which was suffering through a famine, without hesitation, beyond their ability and in spite of great troubles. This outpouring, Paul says, was itself a gift of God, and was possible because they first of all gave themselves to the Lord, in obedience, and to Paul as his representative. Because of their example, Paul sent Titus to finish the work of giving the Corinthians themselves had begun.

Churches often struggle to pay their bills now because members give their leftovers, not their best, to God's work. Not only do we seldom give offerings beyond our tithes, few of us give even that minimum standard. The capacity to give is itself a gift of God, but we must first of all give ourselves to him; he doesn't want our money if he doesn't have us.

7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Some people are dreamers; they come up with great plans of things that would be good to do, but they never carry through with them. That was the case here with the Corinthian church; they had conceived the idea of helping the Jerusalem by means of a special offering, but they had not followed through by actually collecting the money. The Macedonian churches had taken the same idea, and enthusiastically carried it through to completion. James talks about Christians who send someone in need on their way with a wish that they be warm and well-fed, but who do nothing to help, when it lies within their means to do so (James 2:15-16). It did no good to say, "We should take up an offering to help the Jerusalem church," then do nothing to carry out the plan. God does not look for us to give what we do not have, but he does look for the willingness to help others. Just as we willingly step in to help, others can do the same for us, not out of some sense of obligation, but in godly love. The reference to gathering in verse 15 refers to the daily harvest of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:18). In our greed, we sometimes try to keep more of God's bounty to ourselves than we are due. Those among the children of Israel who gathered more manna than they were supposed to, found it rotted away. When we keep money we should be putting back into God's work, much the same thing happens to us.

16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

It is very important for those who gave to have the assurance that their gifts are being used for their intended purpose, not squandered or wasted. One complaint of many denominational churches is that their offerings sent to a denominational office are directed to people or causes that hold views, or support causes, contrary to those who gave the money to begin with. We cannot always control what others do with money given in good faith, but if we don't trust those charged with administering the funds, we're less likely to give. Not only are such people responsible to God for funds put in their care, but to the people who gave as well. It is the height of arrogance for a church office, or officer, to take it on themselves to decide how to spend God's money if that's contrary to the wishes of those who gave.

Unfortunately, one of the key marks of the Corinthian church was pride. Though Paul wasn't playing to their baser instincts, in not wanting to be bettered by others, he still hoped to appeal to a desire to make a good impression on Titus and the visitors from Macedonia. None of us wants to appear to be hypocrites in the eyes of others, either in the world or in the church. The proof,. as the old saying goes, is in the pudding. Protesting that we possess Christian love will convince no one if we never show evidence of it. Giving cheerfully and without reservation is one of the chief ways of manifesting that love.

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