The Heart of Generosity – Part 1

Read Together

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 (NIV) – 1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. ⁵ And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. ⁶ So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷ But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. ⁸ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. ¹¹ Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹² For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. ¹³ Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵ as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

Backstory

1 Corinthians 16:1–4 (NIV) – 1 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. ² On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. ³ Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Giving Requires Grace

2 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV) – 1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

• Giving God’s way is not by human effort alone. It requires grace.
• You need grace to do the things that God asks you to do. 
  • You need supernatural power to obey God.
• The work of grace can often feel like something you are doing by your own strength.
  • You often won’t realize grace is present until grace is absent.
  • Daniel 4:28–37 (ESV) – ²⁸ All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” ³¹ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, ³² and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” ³³ Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. ³⁴ At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; ³⁵ all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” ³⁶ At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
  • When God makes an additional request, He makes available additional grace.
  • James 4:6 (ESV) – ⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Difficulty Doesn’t Disqualify You

Adversity and poverty are not reasons to opt out of opportunities to give.

• 2 Corinthians 8:2–4 (NIV) ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.

Motivation is the Key

2 Corinthians 8:5 (NIV) – ⁵ And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Make Generosity a Priority

2 Corinthians 8:6-7 (NIV) – ⁶ So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷ But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

• You have to make giving a practice and not just something you do when you are inspired.
  • Just like prayer, Bible reading, worship and fellowship, giving is a spiritual discipline.

Will You Pass the Test?

2 Corinthians 8:8 (NIV) – ⁸ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

• Invitations to give are tests of the heart.

Consider the Goodness of God

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Finish the Work

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 (NIV) – ¹⁰ And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. ¹¹ Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

God is Not Asking for Something You Don’t Have

2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV) ¹² For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

• Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) – ²¹ Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

God is Not Exploiting Anyone

2 Corinthians 8:13-14 (NIV) – ¹³ Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,

When We Are Faithfully Obedient, No One Is Left Behind

2 Corinthians 8:15 (NIV) – ¹⁵ as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

© Joshua D. Smith, Ph.D., 2023