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Home » Bible Study » Men's Bible Study » 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 [Giving] (2 Corinthians 8:1-24 [Giving])
2 Corinthians 8:1-24 [Giving] [message #1077] Tue, 23 February 2021 22:59 Go to next message
john.svk is currently offline  john.svk
Messages: 297
Registered: October 2017
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Excel in Giving
8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency [a]that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

10 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; 11 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. 12 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.

13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 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. 15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

Collection for the Judean Saints
16 But thanks be to God who [b]puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us-- 21 providing honorable 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 often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers[c] of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show to them, [d]and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
Re: 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 [Giving] [message #1105 is a reply to message #1077] Tue, 09 March 2021 17:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mohandoss is currently offline  mohandoss
Messages: 198
Registered: February 2017
Location: Virginia Beach
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OBSERVATIONS:

Give with Rich Generosity:

The churches of Macedonia refers to the churches in cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. They were in extreme poverty but their joy was overflowing because of their rich generosity in giving to God and poor.Now the faith community in Jerusalem became poor because of war, famine, and persecution. Macedonia and Achaia never recovered from the wars as well.Generosity and plenty stand against each other. Those who have plenty are the one close their hands to the Church and to the Poor. The poor, who has fewer resources are the one give generously. The giving is sowing the seed. Seeds are always less the harvest is plenty. The plenty is a result of the sown seeds. Giving to God in the form of Tithe, in the form of donations are investments. The dividend will be high the returns will be plenty.

Giving to the Poor: Act of perfection (Mathew 19:21), giving to Poor lacks nothing (Proverbs 28:27).

GIVE BEYOND YOUR CAPACITY :
God commanded us to honour Him with our Tithe and free will offerings. We cannot rob God to pay Caesar or the other way around. Acts 11:29 reads 'disciples according to their ability they gave to the need of the brothers'. God was very particular about offering when He spoke to Moses saying, "Tell the Israelite to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man..." (Exodus 25:2).

GIVE BY GRACE:
Excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, in your love. Sincerity and earnestness. Christ Rich became poor and the poor became rich.Giving to God is honouring God. Paul says, "they first gave themselves to the Lord." Order of giving was first given themselves, then their things. This is the key to a giving heart.

APPLICATIONS

- We should have cheerful heart to give others
- We have to release from our hand before God release from his portion
- Who is ur neighbor?
Re: 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 [Giving] [message #1106 is a reply to message #1077] Tue, 09 March 2021 20:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cpchellaa is currently offline  cpchellaa
Messages: 209
Registered: January 2017
Location: Halifax
Senior Member
SCRIPTURE

Excel in Giving
8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency [a]that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

10 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; 11 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. 12 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.

13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 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. 15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

Collection for the Judean Saints
16 But thanks be to God who [b]puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us-- 21 providing honorable 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 often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers[c] of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show to them, [d]and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.


OBSERVATION
churches of Macedonia are excel in giving by the grace of god.
In midst of affliction and poverty, they are rich in giving in abundance of their joy.
They gave according to their ability, beyond their ability and they were freely willing to give.

They urged us to receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints
They first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.
as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also - excel in giving to god.
paul is saying this not by commandment, but with love

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor
if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack. He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.

Romans 12:6-8
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.


APPLICATION
We have to be excel in giving as like christ
We not only righteous infront of god but also before of men, no one should blame us on administering the wealth.


PRAYER

Lord make us as an excellent giver for your glory
Re: 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 [Giving] [message #1107 is a reply to message #1106] Tue, 09 March 2021 21:41 Go to previous message
john.svk is currently offline  john.svk
Messages: 297
Registered: October 2017
Senior Member
Observation:

Grace through Giving:
Macedonia church experienced the rich grace of God, through their giving even though they go through much afflictions and deep poverty. As mentioned in 1 Kings 17:8-16, How a poor widow got blessed by Elijah even though she had only handful of flour and oil but she gave bread to first Elijah. LORD blessed her through prophet Elijah and she and her household never lacked flour (or) oil throughout famine.

Through Love for Giving:
Church in Macedonia gives because of their love of God first and then to the love for people. They fulfilled the 2 commandments that Jesus spoke in Luke 10:27, Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself.
People give beyond their ability when they give from their heart. When the poor widow gave all that she have Jesus talked in Mark 12:43 - "So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

Giving because of the receipt of Spiritual blessing:
As the gentile church partake the spiritual blessings, they want to bless the people by giving. This was recorded in Romans 15:26,27 as "26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 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".
Paul spoke in 1 Corinthians 9:11, If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

Giving because Christ gave:
It is more blessed to give than to receive by our hard work [Acts 20:35]. Christ also gave himself for us to be rich in glory through His suffering.

Giving for Equality among godly brothers:
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [Romans 15:1] Even in Leviticus 23:35, God mentioned "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God."
God even commanded in 151,4 that Israel should cancel the debts of the people on every 7 years hence there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you. In verse 10 also, He commanded that Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to

Application:
Spiritual growth [Calling] and salvation directly ties back to giving as in the case of Cornelius and Elisha.
Proverbs 19:17 - He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.
Acts 10:1-2, Cornelius gave [b]alms generously to the poor people, and prayed to God always. It came up for a memorial before God. Lord even send Apostle Peter to send to Cornelius to teach about Christ and the salvation.
1 Kings 19:21 talks about how Elisha gave everything to people and followed Elijah. 21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Giving the money will prove that we serve God as Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 / Luke 16:13 - You cannot serve God and mammon (money)
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