2 Corinthians 8.1–7

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 went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves 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.


I live in a land of abundance where the overwhelming majority has never felt what it is like to face severe oppression or deep hunger. Consequently, this bounty has caused the masses to disregard the still viable parts of existence in need of charity. Oh! How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom! And yet, the Macedonian churches were quite the opposite. Paul says their generosity was caused by poverty and overflowing joy. If these two factors cause “rich generosity,” perhaps we, though surrounded by abundance, should acknowledge the parts of our existence that lie in poverty as well as ask ourselves if our joy in Christ is manifested in our daily lives.