2 Corinthians 8:7-15
7: But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
8: I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
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: I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
11: But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12: For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13: For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—
14: at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15: as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”
Paul urged the Corinthians to give generously to the poor saints in Jerusalem saying that just as they excelled in everything else—the gifts of the Spirit, zeal and love--so he asked that they excel in this task also. He made it clear that this was his opinion only, he was not commanding them to do this, but presenting an opportunity for them to prove the sincerity of their love.
He believed it was to their advantage to complete this task, which they had started a year prior, and acknowledged that they had the desire to do it. He was not talking them into anything, just calling it to their attention that the poor Macedonians had given quite liberally.
He was not suggesting that they give to the point of bringing poverty on themselves, but to give from their abundance to relieve the poor saints. There might be a time when they would be in need, and the Jerusalem saints would give generously to them. So, this was by no means a forced giving, forcing an equal distribution of wealth among the believers. It was completely voluntary. Free will was maintained as is God’s way.
Paul quoted from Exodus 16:18 when the Israelites were sent manna from heaven to eat and found that each gathered as much as they needed. No one took too much or too little. There was no lack and no waste. God’s provision was perfect. Paul also gave the example of Jesus who came to earth, giving up the riches of heaven that we might, through His poverty, become rich ourselves. He gave it all, so we could share in the riches of the Father’s heavenly kingdom. The heart of the Father truly is to give and share, so we too will have the same heart when we receive His Son.
8: I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
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: I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
11: But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12: For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13: For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—
14: at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15: as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”
***
Paul urged the Corinthians to give generously to the poor saints in Jerusalem saying that just as they excelled in everything else—the gifts of the Spirit, zeal and love--so he asked that they excel in this task also. He made it clear that this was his opinion only, he was not commanding them to do this, but presenting an opportunity for them to prove the sincerity of their love.
He believed it was to their advantage to complete this task, which they had started a year prior, and acknowledged that they had the desire to do it. He was not talking them into anything, just calling it to their attention that the poor Macedonians had given quite liberally.
He was not suggesting that they give to the point of bringing poverty on themselves, but to give from their abundance to relieve the poor saints. There might be a time when they would be in need, and the Jerusalem saints would give generously to them. So, this was by no means a forced giving, forcing an equal distribution of wealth among the believers. It was completely voluntary. Free will was maintained as is God’s way.
Paul quoted from Exodus 16:18 when the Israelites were sent manna from heaven to eat and found that each gathered as much as they needed. No one took too much or too little. There was no lack and no waste. God’s provision was perfect. Paul also gave the example of Jesus who came to earth, giving up the riches of heaven that we might, through His poverty, become rich ourselves. He gave it all, so we could share in the riches of the Father’s heavenly kingdom. The heart of the Father truly is to give and share, so we too will have the same heart when we receive His Son.
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