2 Corinthians 8

Thursday, 8 October 2015

…but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 2 Corinthians 8:14

The last words that Paul said concerned the state which existed between those in Corinth and those in Jerusalem. It was not Paul’s intent that one party should be burdened while another party was eased. Instead, he now explains that he is looking for a state of equality. If equality exists, then neither is burdened. As the Corinthians were not in a state of need, as shown in the words “now at this time your abundance,” they would be able to supply in the lack (the state of need) of those in Jerusalem.

Noting that this is appropriate, he further explains “that their abundance also may supply your lack.” Although unstated, it may be that he was thinking on the lines of material blessings from one and spiritual blessings from the other. This idea is nicely stated in Romans 15 –

“It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.” Romans 15:27

As those in Jerusalem had supplied spiritual blessings to those in Corinth, it was only right that those in Corinth therefore supply material blessings to those in Jerusalem. Whether this is his thought, or whether he was looking forward to a time when the tables were turned and Corinth would be in material need cannot be stated with certainty, but Paul is giving a summary of what is right and proper between brothers when needs exist. He is writing in hopes “that there may be equality.”

It is important to understand that he is writing about equality within the Christian community. He is not writing about global equality where the hard work of those who are diligent to get up and produce each day is robbed from them in order to pay for those who are indolent. He is also not writing about Christians being forced to pay for muslims who have evil intent towards those who would help them. The state of today’s world, where leaders of both governments and religions are purposely robbing from Mike to pay for Manuel or Muhammed, is unbiblical and harmful to the proper functioning of a society.

Life application: Don’t be fooled by pope or president that you have no right to what you have earned. Tell them to go earn their own money and pass that on to those they wish while you will be willing to help your Christian brothers or whoever else you feel it is appropriate to tend to.

Heavenly Father, help me to be good and kind towards my brothers who are in need. Let my heart be willing to help them when times are tough – both in a material and in a spiritual sense. When I have abundance, give me the desire to share in gifts which will ease their burdens and meet their needs according to Your wisdom and not my own. You have blessed me with ability, abundance, and spare time; let me not withhold these when my brothers are in need. Amen.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 2 Corinthians 8:13

This is in line with the previous verse which said –

“For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.”

Paul’s logic is that when one gives, it should be according to what one has. However, in verse 3 he said this about those in Macedonia –

“For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability…”

He has shown that the Macedonians gave even beyond their ability, in a manner that would cause them to have to give up on their own necessities in order to assist those in Jerusalem. However, he explained that they did it freely and without being persuaded. Understanding this context, he now says, “For…” This is based on the preceding verse and his thought of giving out of what one has. He is not trying to persuade them to do what those in Macedonia had done willingly. Instead, he simply means that they should give in order to help those in need, but “not that others should be eased and you burdened.”

Would it make sense that the gift to those in Jerusalem be so large that they could then live lavishly while the givers of the gift had to sacrifice? In that case, a collection from Jerusalem would be needed for the Gentiles who gave! It would make no sense. Paul is simply asking them to give in a manner by which none would become impoverished, but that all would be comforted. His next verses will explain this.

Life application: Sometimes in our zeal to give for a worthy cause, we may promise more than we actually intended to. In such a case, it is appropriate that we give according to the promise. We are to pay our vows. Think carefully about what you intend to do before you do it so that you don’t later regret what you have done.

Glorious God Almighty, help me to be a generous but wise giver. Instill in me a heart which will gladly help others, but at the same time grant me wisdom to not be overzealous and then later regretful of the promises I make. I am sure that when I make a promise, I need to fulfill it. And so keep me restrained in the things I say until I have thought them through carefully. This I pray so that I won’t ever bring discredit upon Your name through bad choices. Amen.

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12

Paul now makes a point to the Corinthians not unlike that made by the Lord in Luke 21:1-4 –

“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. ³ So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.'”

The NKJV here follows after the KJV by indicating that if there is “first” a willing mind. This is in error regarding Paul’s intent. He is not saying this as if indicating a sequence of events in time. Instead, he intends to convey the matter in a positional way. Most other translations rightly say something to the effect that, “…if the willingness is there,” or “…if the eagerness is there,” etc.

Paul is saying that the disposition of the individual is what makes an offering acceptable or not, regardless of the size of the gift. If one eagerly, and with a right heart, gives just thirty cents, they are doing well. However, if someone gives one million dollars with the wrong intent, why would they be credited with an acceptable gift? The world focuses on the size of the gift, but God focuses on the intent behind it.

Understanding this, we can see that a gift is based on the heart of the giver and it is “according to what one has.” The poor man with little can still give a grand gift out of his few possessions. It is accepted then “not according to what he does not have.” If it was, then only the gifts of the wealthy would be acceptable regardless of the amount given in comparison to the amount they possess.

Life application: If your heart is right in your giving, then you will be blessed as you give.

Heavenly Father, the account of the poor widow who gave out of her poverty tells me that You look on our hearts and not on our bank accounts. Help me to remember this and to offer my life, in its entirety, to You willingly and freely. Help me to use the time I have, the talents I possess, and the things that I have earned through a life of work, to Your glory. Let my heart be devoted to You in all ways. Amen.

Monday, 5 October 2015

…but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 2 Corinthians 8:11

Paul’s last verse, which continues on in this one said, “It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago.” He completes the thought beginning with “but.” There was a desire to act, but then action went no further. Now he admonishes them to act, spurring them on as the time for the collection drew near. In essence, “Now is the time that ‘you also must complete the doing of it.'”

Words of action without follow-up are simply vapor that disappears into the air. Nobody is helped through them and people will gauge another’s quality of their character, at least in a large measure, from the action or the lack of action which arises based on the words spoken. In order to ensure that the Corinthians will be viewed in a positive light in this respect, he continues with “that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion of out of what you have.”

The Corinthians, about a year earlier, eagerly spoke their intentions to help the saints in Jerusalem. However, nothing further had come about from their words and a year had slipped by. The time for finally proving their intent had come. Should they not fulfill their words, the gift taken to Jerusalem would be smaller and there would be no commendation for those in Corinth, no letter of thanks, and no gratitude for their loving assistance. The words they spoke would turn out to be that disappearing breath which merely faded away.

Concerning the words “out of what you have,” Vincent’s Word Studies notes that “Meyer justly remarks that it would be an indelicate compliment to the inclination of the readers, that it had originated from their possession. Render, according to your ability.” In other words, translating this “out of what you have” makes it sound like anything given from them excluded God’s hand of grace in it. But all things originally come from God and therefore by restating it to say “according to your ability” allows for the hand of God to be seen in what was given to them as being passed on from them. This then would be perfectly in line with Paul’s note concerning the giving of the Macedonians in verses 1-5.

Life application: If you are going to boast about doing something, it is right that you follow up by doing it. Better yet, don’t boast at all. Just do.

Lord God, grant me a heart of humility. Amen.

Sunday, 4 October 2015

And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 2 Corinthians 8:10

Paul is very careful to make a distinction between his advice and the Lord’s commands. This follows the same line of wording then as verse 8 which said, “I speak not by commandment…” Despite being an apostle, he never wanted to overstep his bounds of authority. However, he also was one wise in the way of conducting such affairs and so he voluntarily continues with his advice.

In his counsel he says, “It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago.” Though the idea won’t be finished until the next verse, we get enough sense of what Paul means now. The Corinthians had made it known a year earlier that they desired to assist in this offering. Because they had so spoken, he desired that they now fulfill what they indicated.

However, Paul inverts what we would naturally consider the normal line of reasoning. It would be more expected for him to say, “What you desired to do, you should now do.” Instead, he puts the doing ahead of the willingness to do. He may be making an ironic statement to them that they are the ones who now have their priorities out of order. Why should they be prompted to do what they had said they would do?

Another option is that their willingness to make a collection should now be turned into an even greater collection than originally intended, adding a year of willingness to a moment of promise. Paul will tell them in the next chapter that God loves a cheerful giver. In their cheerfulness to promise, they should also be cheerful in the fulfillment of the promise.

In his advice, there is always the notion that even if the advice is personal, he is still an apostle who is speaking the words that God intends for His sheep. Paul has been given care of those sheep, and therefore his words should be trusted and acted upon.

Life application: We have Paul’s words as doctrine for the church age. Let us pay heed to them as if we believe that they are exactly what the Bible reveals they are – the very words of God which are intended to guide us in holy and right living.

Heavenly Father, help me to ensure that my actions are in line with my words. If I make a promise, help me to keep that promise. If I say I will handle a problem, then give me the ability to handle it and the desire to see it through to its completion. As I have called on Christ, what I do will reflect on Him in other’s eyes. Help me never to tarnish that view of my wonderful Lord and Savior. Amen.