Giving Like the Macedonian Church

We live in a world of materialism and consumerism. There is this desire to accumulate things… even when we do not really need them. Christians are not exempt from such behavior. The way we use money is often a reflection of our spiritual maturity. In this blog, I would like to use the Macedonian church as an example to demonstrate Christian giving.

So, how did the Macedonian Christians give?

The Macedonian churches were extremely poor and in great trial.

2 Corinthians 8:2 “Out of the most severe trial, their overwhelming joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”

Note that this verse does not simply say that they were going through “trial,” or even “severe trial,” however, it says “most severe trial.” Also, they were not just poor, but in “extreme poverty.” What strikes me as amazing is that even amidst such terrible conditions, they had “overwhelming joy” and were “rich in generosity.”

Wait a minute! How is that possible? How can “trial” and “joy” go together? Or, what connection does “poverty” and “generosity” have with each other? They have no connection whatsoever in the natural world. A non-Christian may not be able to even understand how these words can be used together in this manner in a sentence. Paul says that even amidst “extreme poverty” the Macedonian churches were “rich in generosity.” Now, this is what a relationship with Christ can do to you. It makes such paradoxical impossibilities possible. A Christian can go through trial and yet have joy… so also, she can be extremely poor and yet be richly generous.

The Macedonian churches gave beyond their ability to give

2 Corinthians 8:3 “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

Paul says that he can personally testify to the fact that the Macedonian churches gave proportionately to their income… those who had more, gave more… those who had less, gave less. But Paul does not stop there. He says that their giving was sacrificial. They gave beyond what they were able to give. Now that is sacrificial giving. Probably, one family decided not to celebrate birthdays that year or buy new clothes for themselves… they decided to share what they had with the poor brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. Giving “beyond their ability” means cutting down their own expenses. You have probably heard about the Macedonian call, but this is Macedonian giving.

The Macedonian churches were not forced/lured into giving

2 Corinthians 8:4 “Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege­­ of sharing in this service to the saints.”

The Macedonian believers were not compelled, pressurized or manipulated into giving. Probably Paul was hesitant in asking these churches for money… probably, he even tried to dissuade them from giving much, out of pity for their situation. But, the Macedonian churches “urgently pleaded” with Paul and his friends that they would also be allowed the “privilege of sharing” with the needy saints. Note, that giving for the Lord’s cause was not a burden for them but a privilege. They “pleaded” with Paul that they could give to the saints – people whom they did not know personally. How wonderful! How Christ-like!

The Macedonian giving was the fruit of God’s grace acting on them

2 Corinthians 8:1 “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.”

This is how Paul begins this passage. The generosity that the Macedonian churches demonstrated was not merely an act of human philanthropy or an act expecting human praise and appreciation. This generosity was the result of the transformation that the grace of God produces in the hearts of its recipients. In the first nine verses of this chapter the grace of God is connected to sacrificial giving (vv. 1, 6, 7, 9).

Conclusion

Paul is using the Macedonian example of giving in order to inspire the Corinthian church to give to the needy saints in Jerusalem. May this blog ignite in you a passion for giving to the Lord and His cause around the world. Let me close with the words of Paul as found in verse 7: “But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”