2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (HCSB)
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will. So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this grace.
Paul now turns his attention to the offering for the needy Christians in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4). He had previously floated the idea with the Corinthians of sending a love offering to them and the idea had been warmly received. Many of the Corinthians pledged generous gifts.
As Paul traveled throughout Macedonia, he promoted this special offering, using the Corinthians’ generous pledges as encouragement. And the results had stunned Paul! Even though the Macedonians were poor by comparison, their generosity was great. They had given far more than Paul had dared to imagine.
The key to their generosity was not that they had been manipulated with emotional appeals. It was that they had given themselves wholeheartedly to God, and God had sparked in them a generous spirit. They gave sacrificially, looking to God to provide for their needs as He had promised.
Now, with Paul’s imminent visit, it was time for the Corinthians to step up and fulfill their promise. Titus had encouraged their generosity while he was there, and now Paul adds his own encouragement to be generous, urging them to excel in the area of generosity just as they had excelled in the areas of faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness, and love.
Father, it is quite common for people to get excited about a project or an opportunity to give, only to have that passion die out after a short time. Usually that is because the fire was lit by emotion, and when our attention shifts or when our emotions call us to focus in a different direction, the original passion dies. The Macedonians, on the other hand, were not driven by their emotions but by their devotion to You and Your Kingdom. Since they had wholeheartedly given themselves to You, they easily gave themselves to Your priorities without having to be driven there, and without their emotions having to be kept stirred up to maintain that focus and commitment. Father, help me to keep my devotion to You right in the center of all that I do, right in the center of all that I am, so that I instantly and wholeheartedly respond to whatever You call me to do. Amen.