2 Corinthians 8:1-7: a reflection

1Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, 2how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity. 3For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, 4begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. 5This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. 6So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace. 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.

Paul tells the Corinthians about the remarkable generosity of the Macedonian churches, and what makes it remarkable is its source and its cost. Out of a severe ordeal of affliction and deep poverty, their joy overflowed in generosity; they gave beyond their means, of their own accord, even begging for the privilege of sharing. And Paul names the secret: this was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord. Their generosity flowed from having first given themselves to God; that self-giving was the root of their overflowing generosity.

Notice the source of the Macedonians' generosity: they first gave themselves to the Lord. Their generosity was not the mere giving of money from abundance; it flowed from a prior, deeper giving, the giving of their very selves to God. Having given themselves to the Lord, they gave their goods freely, even beyond their means, even out of their poverty, with overflowing joy. The self-giving came first, and the generosity flowed from it. Their giving of money was the overflow of their giving of themselves.

That order is worth taking to heart, for true generosity flows from first giving ourselves to God. We can try to be generous with our goods while withholding ourselves, giving money grudgingly or calculatingly; but the Macedonians' overflowing generosity flowed from having first given themselves to the Lord. Give yourself first to God, and let your generosity flow from that self-giving, as the Macedonians' did. When we have first given ourselves to God, generosity with our goods follows more freely, even joyfully, even beyond our means; but generosity without that self-giving is harder and more grudging. Give yourself to the Lord first, and let your giving of goods flow from that deeper giving, as the Macedonians first gave themselves to the Lord and then gave of their goods with overflowing, joyful generosity, even out of their poverty.

Lord, Paul tells the Corinthians about the remarkable generosity of the Macedonian churches, and what makes it remarkable is its source and its cost. Out of a severe ordeal of affliction and deep poverty, their joy overflowed in generosity; they gave beyond their means, of their own accord, even begging for the privilege of sharing. And Paul names the secret: this was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord. Their generosity flowed from having first given themselves to you. Show me the source of the Macedonians' generosity: they first gave themselves to you. Their generosity was not the mere giving of money from abundance; it flowed from a prior, deeper giving, the giving of their very selves to you. Having given themselves to you, they gave their goods freely, even beyond their means, with overflowing joy. The self-giving came first. Take that order to my heart, for true generosity flows from first giving myself to you. I can try to be generous with my goods while withholding myself, giving grudgingly or calculatingly; but the Macedonians' overflowing generosity flowed from having first given themselves to you. Help me give myself first to you, and let my generosity flow from that self-giving. When I have first given myself to you, generosity with my goods follows more freely; but generosity without that self-giving is harder and more grudging. Help me give myself to you first, Lord, and let my giving flow from that deeper giving.