BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

TODAY’S PASSAGE: 

2 Corinthians 8:1-8 (NLT) 1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

2 Corinthians 8:1 (NLT) – Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.

• In today’s passage, Paul commends the churches in Macedonia for their generosity in the midst of severe trials and poverty.
• DEFINITION – Generosity (haplótēs) – openness of heart manifesting itself by giving freely
• The Macedonian church was moved with compassion for the persecuted church in Jerusalem. This compassion was the result of God’s kindness at work within them.
• God filled the church with both compassion and abundant joy that overflowed in giving.
• Today, God still works through the church and through us individually in the same way.

Philippians 2:13 (NLT) – For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

2 Corinthians 8:4 (NLT) – They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

• The Macedonian church’s giving was notable for many reasons. It was inspired by God, it was generous, it was sacrificial, and it was joyful.
• Their generosity was both sacrificial and joyful because they recognized something important about giving – it is a privilege (v. 4)!
• DEFINITION – Privilege: a benefit, advantage, or right not enjoyed by everyone; special enjoyment of a blessing
• The Macedonian church recognized that giving was an incredible opportunity to partner with God to accomplish something meaningful and eternal.
• They were so grateful for what God was doing in their own lives that they couldn’t wait to share it with others.

2 Corinthians 6:1 (NLT) – As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

• They didn’t just give sacrificially, they begged to be a part of what God was doing.

2 Corinthians 8:6 (NLT) – So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.

• Today’s Bible verses clearly state that giving is a ministry (v. 6).
• DEFINITION – Ministry (diakonia) – the spiritual work or service of any Christian or a group of Christians, especially evangelism, feeding the poor, discipleship and/or giving, etc.
• In fact, Paul urges the Corinthian church to excel in this ministry alongside their Macedonian church brothers (v. 7).
• In other words, when it comes to meeting needs, we should look for ways that we can exceed people’s expectations, going beyond what is expected or comfortable.
• When we minister to others in this way, we demonstrate the sincerity and genuineness of our love and God’s love for them.