II Corinthians 8:1-15 1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given...

II Corinthians 8:1-15II Corinthians 8:1-15

1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.


5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.


7But 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.

7But 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.


8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.


10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.


12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.


14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."


1414At the present time your plenty will At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, need. Then there will be equality, 1515as as it is written: "He who gathered much it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."gathered little did not have too little."

1414At the present time your plenty will At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, need. Then there will be equality, 1515as as it is written: "He who gathered much it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."gathered little did not have too little."


The Greatest GiftThe Greatest Gift


Terry Mattingly’s ArticleTerry Mattingly’s Article

““Don’t let my car fool you. My treasureDon’t let my car fool you. My treasure is in heaven.” is in heaven.”

Circumstances Surrounding Our Circumstances Surrounding Our TextText

Paul had written a previous letter Paul had written a previous letter urging the Corinthians to prepare a urging the Corinthians to prepare a money gift for the destitute saints in money gift for the destitute saints in Jerusalem. I Cor. 16:1-Jerusalem. I Cor. 16:1- 44

At the time of writing the second letter At the time of writing the second letter to them they had not made the to them they had not made the collection.collection.

Paul writes them urging them to fulfill Paul writes them urging them to fulfill their promise.their promise.

CorinthCorinth

A Grecian city, 48 miles west of AthensA Grecian city, 48 miles west of Athens

Noted for its wealth, and for the luxurious Noted for its wealth, and for the luxurious and immoral and vicious habits of the people and immoral and vicious habits of the people

““A Corinthian banquet”A Corinthian banquet”

I sat in the Bema (judgment seat); I saw the I sat in the Bema (judgment seat); I saw the Agora and I read the name Erastus from a Agora and I read the name Erastus from a stone.stone.

MacedoniansMacedonians

They were in a “severe test of affliction.”They were in a “severe test of affliction.” The lived in “extreme poverty.”The lived in “extreme poverty.” They gave:They gave:

- according to their means… - according to their means… and beyond their meansand beyond their means

- of their own free will- of their own free will- begging us earnestly for the favor of- begging us earnestly for the favor of

taking part in the relief of the saints.taking part in the relief of the saints.

“…“…they gave themselves first to the they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

I want you to understand a very I want you to understand a very important thing:important thing:

GOD WANTS YOUGOD WANTS YOU

God wanted the people of Israel to be a God wanted the people of Israel to be a people who belonged to Him and to Him people who belonged to Him and to Him only, only, even thougheven though God knew who these God knew who these people were and what they had done. people were and what they had done.

God wants US to be a people who belong God wants US to be a people who belong to Him and to Him only, and He knows to Him and to Him only, and He knows who we are and what we have done.who we are and what we have done.

God Loves You UnconditionallyGod Loves You Unconditionally

He knows who you are; He knows all your He knows who you are; He knows all your failures; He knows every weakness you failures; He knows every weakness you have; He knows every evil that you have; He knows every evil that you commit; He knows every flaw in you; and commit; He knows every flaw in you; and he knows that you will never be perfect. he knows that you will never be perfect.

And He still loves you. He wants you to be And He still loves you. He wants you to be His and only His. His and only His.

He wants you by your own choice to love He wants you by your own choice to love Him unconditionally. Him unconditionally.

He wants you to choose to be a person for He wants you to choose to be a person for His own treasured possession.His own treasured possession.

Paul brags on the Corinthians:Paul brags on the Corinthians:“You excel in everything.”“You excel in everything.”

They excel in:They excel in:

FaithFaith

SpeechSpeech

KnowledgeKnowledge

See that you abound in this grace also.See that you abound in this grace also.

Paul Cites the Example of JesusPaul Cites the Example of Jesus

““For you know the grace of our Lord For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become that you by his poverty might become rich.” II Cor. 8:9rich.” II Cor. 8:9

πλούσιοςπλούσιος Rich, wealthy. Figuratively Rich, wealthy. Figuratively meaning happy, prosperous, lacking meaning happy, prosperous, lacking nothing – 2 Cor. 8:9nothing – 2 Cor. 8:9

πτωχεύωπτωχεύω: : to change to a state of to change to a state of poverty - to become poor. ‘Although poverty - to become poor. ‘Although (Christ) was rich, he became poor for (Christ) was rich, he became poor for your sake.’ – 2 Cor 8.9your sake.’ – 2 Cor 8.9

Paul continues:Paul continues:

He cites their own past record. He cites their own past record.

He stresses the necessity of putting He stresses the necessity of putting fine feeling into fine action. fine feeling into fine action.

He reminds them that life has a strange He reminds them that life has a strange way of evening things up.way of evening things up.

If you take the son, you get it all.If you take the son, you get it all.

If the Son gets you, He gets it all.If the Son gets you, He gets it all.

II Corinthians 8:1-15 1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given...

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