At the start of our series in 2 Corinthians, we likened the book of 2 Corinthians to a rich broth. This letter was given to a feeble, weak and struggling church that was on their way to growing in holiness. Paul therefore gave them this rich, gospel “broth” of care and truth to nurse them back to health.
But what are they to do with this health? Paul nursed them back to health so that their lives would produce mature Christian giving. It’s not just about giving but that we would enjoy participation in God’s supernatural plan for His church.
(A) Christian giving begins with Christ’s act of grace (2 Cor 8:1-9)
Last week, we learnt that in Christ, we have been made rich. It doesn’t mean that we will enjoy abundant wealth and prosperity, materially rich. Eph 1 teaches us that the riches we have in Christ are what we could not obtain on our own — our adoption, reconciliation with God, redemption from our sins, forgiveness etc. Thus, because we have all these in Christ, we can hold loosely to the things of this earth.
2 Cor 8:7 also show us that the people have faith and love, and are able to show generosity to others.
Who enables the Corinthians’ giving and how does it happen? The grace of Jesus Christ—because of his grace we can now give generously (2 Cor 8:9). It is not just spiritual higher-level things but about how we are generous with all the resources we have available to us. Christian giving is completed as a mark of mature grace.
(B) Christian giving is a mark of grace (2 Cor 8:10-12)
Who benefits from the Corinthians’ giving? Paul gives his judgment that the Corinthians’ giving benefits them. Let’s slow down and ask why this is so? Most of us will say that it is better to give than to receive. Why does Paul say this? It is beneficial for the Corinthian church because it frees them from the love of money and wealth. It could also serve to alert them that they have such a strong love in the first place! Thus, it serves to alert them to the problem, and also to act in response to it!
In the next chapter, in 2 Cor 9:6, Paul also goes on to write that whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully. But what sort of bounty? Paul speaks of the “harvest of your righteousness”. We will unpack more of this when we get to this passage, but what we can see here is that there is a result from the giving.
Paul also writes in 1 Tim 6:17-19 to warn Christians about the temptations that come with being materially wealthy and rich in this age. Paul is telling us to be alert to how our inward richness manifests in an outward richness of generosity and willingness to share. There is a future at stake but more importantly so that we can take hold of eternal life.
Paul is calling them to examine themselves, and make sure that if they are rich materially to also have a corresponding inward richness of grace. This reflects the eternal righteousness which they will inherit.
On the flip side of this is a more serious, sombre though that we all should do well to pay attention to. If we are materially abundant, it is just a chain around our necks that will drag us to hell unless there is some inward abundance of grace. Jesus knew the hold that wealth and riches has on us. He said that it is more difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom than for a camel to enter the eye of a needle. Our riches have a tendency to slowly, but surely, ensnare our hearts through all the delights that they bring. How we think about and use our wealth also reflect where our hopes are truly directed — on them or are they pinned on Christ?
We are relatively young Singaporeans. Some of us are working professionals. Others of us are starting our first job. But to all of us, we are to pay close attention and it really is for our benefit that we grow this grace of generosity. If we don’t, sin can easily entangle and tell us that we need self- preservation and security in the form of material stability and financial profits. This clouds our hearts and causes us to forget that our security and blessing in Christ is better than what this world can give, and is eternal.
Paul also reminds them that their giving is an “act of grace”. Grace (“charis”) relates to the charismatic. This word has taken on many different meanings these day and a lot of us immediately think of things like prophecy and tongues when we think of spiritual gifts. But here, Paul is reminding the Corinthian church that this — their generosity — is also a work of grace. This is what it means to be blessed.
Do we recognise that this too, is an act of grace? We use the word “grace” so often, but more often than not, we don’t really think about these relatively ordinary, every day manifestation of grace that God is calling us to grow in? It is a necessary benefit for all of us to grow in this aspect of grace.
As we look at our world today, what is most consistent is that the bulk of giving is borne by those who are middle- to lower-middle class. Counterintuitively, those who have a lot tend to give less. That is the trend of the natural world. In a society so enamoured with financial independence and retiring early, we should recognize this sign of generosity as beyond human nature. So we should delight and rejoice in it and long for more.
The two characteristics of the Corinthians’ giving were that they were the first to give, and they had a desire to do so (2 Cor 8:10b). It is not enough for one to be giving. It is not enough for one to also desire to do something. Paul, in looking at the Corinthian church, saw that they had the right desire in their hearts, and now, he is calling them to complete it!
Read these words, not as Paul guilt-tripping them, but cheering them on in love! It’s like seeing a flower bud, and telling them to keep watering until it blooms. It is so sad to see the flower bud, and then do nothing to help it to grow. Paul is telling them to see it through. How? With what they already have. Wake up each day, see what they have and continue seeing it through over time. This is what 2 Cor 8:12 says. Paul is telling them to be faithful with what they have now.
What should we think about this? While Christian giving is a mark of grace, completing our Christian giving is a mark of mature grace. This is what maturity looks like in the Christian life. There are initial marks of grace, and we see it through! This is what faithfulness looks like. Faithfulness is less about how radically high your peaks are. It is a long obedience in the same direction, as Eugene Peterson once wrote. This is what Paul is calling this church on the road to recovery to. He is not calling them to super marvellous and extraordinary things, but actually ordinary actions. This is both encouraging but also challenging. This same call extends to us, and causes us to think about our own Christian work
This is also how we should measure our work in Christ. What are you looking forward to hearing when Christ returns? Is it “well done my good and abundant servant” or “well done, my good and faithful servant”? It is everyday faithfulness that he is calling us to.
(C ) Christian giving reflects God’s supernatural provision for the church, through the church
Paul also helps them see what the point is not, and what the giving should do. It is not about them working hard so others can slack off (2 Cor 8:13a). But the point of giving here, is about fairness (2 Cor 8:13b-14). It is not fairness in a simple, egalitarian way where everyone should have the same thing. But Paul is saying that it is a good thing for a Christian to demonstrate it fairness in the provision of the physical needs of each other because it points to something that has been shown even in the OT.
Here, Paul quotes Exo 16:18. At this point, God had mightily redeemed His people from being slaves in Egypt, and they were on their way to the Promised Land. However in Exo 16, the people were grumbling against God that He wasn’t providing for them, and went as far as to say that they had a better life in Egypt. God heard the people’s grumbling and responded by telling them to get ready to behold His glory — He would provide meat for them at twilight, and bread in the morning (Exo 16:9-12). God provided for them supernaturally (Exo 16:13-14). He also commanded them to gather it according to the number of persons in their household (Exo 16:15-16). The people gathered different amounts, but everyone had exactly what they needed (Exo 16:17-18). God provided for them according to their varying needs.
In quoting Exo 16, Paul is asking if they believe that God is the same God. God provides today for His church through the same, or even greater supernatural work of transformed, grace-filled hearts than what the people experienced in the wilderness. God provides for the church through people, people who were once dead to God and dead in sin, with no desire for God nor the ways of Christ and with no affection for Christ. But they were redeemed and have been brought into His plan for world-defying, culture-shocking, supernaturally sufficient provision. Christ has made us rich by His giving of Himself, that we might find grace started in our hearts and matured through practical sustained faithfulness. All this is witness to God’s supernatural provision.
Christian giving is intrinsic to what we are. 2 Cor 8:15 is emphasizing the “we”. Remember this: that God will grow His grace in our heart, that we might be part of His provision. If you have been participating in the provision of the needs of others, thank God! Do not make light of the ways God has been working in your heart. The next time you drop that note in the offering bag, or scan that QR code, remember that God is providing for His people and growing this grace in your heart that you are a part of this provision! It is an amazing thing! Remember this grace, for it is beneficial for you.
Perhaps you might struggle with this and think, “I’m struggling so much to let it go.” It is not, “Why are you not giving more?” but more of “Why do you struggle to trust God’s provision?” Do you trust in God’s provision? Where is your identity? Where does it lie? Exo 16 also shows us those Israelites who did not obey and tried to hoard the provisions. What they found was that the manna did not keep and rotted away the next morning. Christ and all of Scripture makes the same point, that the things we hoard today are gone tomorrow. Be wary of where your security lies! Turn from your sin and turn to Christ!
Thus at the end of this passage, we are called to reflect on our own lives and attitudes, Behold God. Embrace Christ, my friend. If you feel ensnared by riches, place your faith in Him and ask Him to work His grace in your heart.
As much as this passage has focused on material provision, the principle can be extended to how we show up for and love the church materially. Commit yourself to think about how God has blessed you richly with all these different kinds of grace. What have you been abundant in and what do you see lacking in your own church? Time? Energy? Unique chances for relationships? Think about how God is using you uniquely to build up the body of Christ.