Reflections on 2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 08 (Contemporary English Version)


1. My friends, we want you to know that the churches in Macedonia have shown others how kind God is.
2. Although they were going through hard times and were very poor, they were glad to give generously.
3. They gave as much as they could afford and even more, simply because they wanted to.
4. They even asked and begged us to let them have the joy of giving their money for God's people.
5. And they did more than we had hoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as God wanted them to do.
6. Titus was the one who got you started doing this good thing, so we begged him to have you finish what you had begun.
7. You do everything better than anyone else. You have stronger faith. You speak better and know more. You are eager to give, and you love us better. Now you must give more generously than anyone else.
8. I am not ordering you to do this. I am simply testing how real your love is by comparing it with the concern that others have shown.
9. You know that our Lord Jesus Christ was kind enough to give up all his riches and become poor, so that you could become rich.
10. A year ago you were the first ones to give, and you gave because you wanted to. So listen to my advice.
11. I think you should finish what you started. If you give according to what you have, you will prove that you are as eager to give as you were to think about giving.
12. It doesn't matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have.
13. I am not trying to make life easier for others by making life harder for you. But it is only fair
14. for you to share with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then everyone will have a fair share,
15. just as the Scriptures say, "Those who gathered too much had nothing left. Those who gathered only a little had all they needed."
16. I am grateful that God made Titus care as much about you as we do.
17. When we begged Titus to visit you, he said he would. He wanted to because he cared so much for you.
18. With Titus we are also sending one of the Lord's followers who is well known in every church for spreading the good news.
19. The churches chose this follower to travel with us while we carry this gift that will bring praise to the Lord and show how much we hope to help.
20. We don't want anyone to find fault with the way we handle your generous gift.
21. But we want to do what pleases the Lord and what people think is right.
22. We are also sending someone else with Titus and the other follower. We approve of this man. In fact, he has already shown us many times that he wants to help. And now he wants to help even more than ever, because he trusts you so much.
23. Titus is my partner, who works with me to serve you. The other two followers are sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ.
24. Treat them in such a way that the churches will see your love and will know why we bragged about you.
    
    

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    As Paul seeks the spiritual welfare of the Corinthian Christians in areas of faith and knowledge and love, he now includes the grace of giving. It is, as he tells them, a test of their love. Giving financially to help the Christians in Jerusalem was a practical expression of their love, not toward Paul, but toward the Lord who, "although He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich." (8:9)
    
    The Corinthians had begun a collection for the Jerusalem Christians a year earlier, but had not carried through to completion with their intent to help those in Jerusalem. Paul considered it profitable for them to finish this task. He was not expecting that they should provide for the need of others while making a hardship for themselves. But rather to give out of their surplus, reminding them that there may be a future time in which circumstances would be reversed and those in Jerusalem might give out of their surplus to help the Corinthians.
    
    Paul encouraged their giving to this cause with an example of the churches in Macedonia. Even though these churches were experiencing severe affliction, they gave generously to this cause. Their giving went beyond their ability, as they begged for the "privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints." (8:4) It was the enthusiastic giving of the Macedonian churches that spurred Paul to urge Titus to return to Corinth and "complete this grace to you." (8:6) Paul explained in verse 18 and following the procedure for delivering the collection from the various churches to the church in Jerusalem. A team of three men, including Titus, a brother from the Macedonian churches, and another unamed person who was highly respected by all the churches, were to take the offering to Jerusalem. This provision was to avoid any charge of mishandling of the offering.
    
    Collection of money in the church is often criticized by those who say the church is only interested in their money. But Paul's concern here was as much for the benefit of the Corinthian church as for the Jerusalem church. In the midst of being pulled away from their Christian roots by false teachers, this offering provided them a practical means of reconnecting with those Christian roots. First, it was an expression of their love for Christ of whom doubts had been raised by the false teachers. It was also a positive response to Paul and his ministry with them. Plus, it was a material bond between them and other churches that would strengthen their identity with other Christians. Taking steps to contribute to this cause offered them a practical way to get off the fence they were riding between commitment to Christ and commitment to the teachings of the false apostles and teachers.