2 Corinthians 8:8-15: a reflection

8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. 10I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing. 11But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. 12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have. 13For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed, 14but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack, that there may be equality. 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

As Paul urges the Corinthians toward generosity, he grounds it in the supreme example of Christ's own generosity: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. Christ, who was rich in the glory of heaven, became poor, taking on our poverty, our human lowliness and need, even to the cross, so that we, through his poverty, might become rich in the true riches of salvation. His self-giving generosity is the pattern and ground of ours.

Notice the grace of Christ Paul points to: he became poor to make us rich. Christ was rich, possessing the glory and fullness of heaven; yet for our sakes he became poor, emptying himself, taking on our lowliness and need, giving himself even to death. And the purpose was our enrichment: that we, through his poverty, might become rich in the salvation and life he gives. He gave up his riches to make us rich; his poverty was for our enrichment. This is the grace of Christ: a self-giving generosity that impoverished itself to enrich us.

That grace of Christ is worth resting in, and it is the pattern of our own generosity. We were poor, spiritually destitute, unable to enrich ourselves; but Christ became poor for our sakes, that we might become rich through his poverty. Rest in the grace of Christ, who gave up his riches to make you rich, enriching you at the cost of his own impoverishment. And let his self-giving generosity be the pattern of your own; as Christ became poor to enrich you, so give of yourself generously for others' good. Marvel at the grace of Christ, who though he was rich became poor for your sake, that you through his poverty might become rich; rest in the riches he has given you at the cost of his own poverty, and let his generosity, which impoverished itself to enrich you, be the pattern and motive of your own giving.

Lord, as Paul urges the Corinthians toward generosity, he grounds it in the supreme example of Christ's own generosity: for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. Christ, who was rich in the glory of heaven, became poor, taking on our poverty, our human lowliness and need, even to the cross, so that we, through his poverty, might become rich in the true riches of salvation. Show me the grace of Christ Paul points to: he became poor to make us rich. Christ was rich, possessing the glory of heaven; yet for our sakes he became poor, emptying himself, taking on our lowliness, giving himself even to death. And the purpose was our enrichment: that we, through his poverty, might become rich in the salvation and life he gives. He gave up his riches to make us rich. This is the grace of Christ. Let me rest in that grace, and let it be the pattern of my own generosity. I was poor, spiritually destitute, unable to enrich myself; but Christ became poor for my sake, that I might become rich through his poverty. Help me rest in the grace of Christ, who gave up his riches to make me rich. And let his self-giving generosity be the pattern of my own; as Christ became poor to enrich me, help me give of myself generously for others' good, Lord. Thank you that Christ, though he was rich, became poor for my sake, that I might become rich.