The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "Satisfaction: What Giving Gains."
Compassion requires generosity. Much of what Paul writes about giving he writes with regard to a special offering he was collecting for poor saints in Jerusalem. Interestingly, what he writes echoes a saying of Jesus that Paul, alone, has preserved for us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Ac 20:35). Why these Jewish believers were perpetually poor isn’t exactly known, but several factors may have been at play. One author writes: “(1) After their conversion to Christianity many Jews in Jerusalem would have been ostracized socially and economically. (2) The ‘experiment in community sharing’ described in Acts 2:44, 45 and 4:32, 34, 35 undoubtedly would have aggravated, though it did not cause, their poverty. (3) Persistent food shortages in Palestine because of overpopulation culminated in the famine of a. d. 46 in the time of Emperor Claudius (Acts 11:27-30). (4) As the mother-church of Christendom, the Jerusalem church was obligated to support a proportionately large number of teachers and probably to provide hospitality for frequent Christian visitors to the holy city. (5) Jews in Palestine were subject to a crippling twofold taxation—Jewish and Roman” (Murray J. Harris, “2 Corinthians,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 10:311).
Not only can we learn about giving from the instructions Paul gave the church in Corinth, but we can also learn about it from the example set by the churches in Macedonia, presumably Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. The apostle appealed to their generosity in order to encourage the church in Corinth to finish what it had started. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, the apostle describes how they gave. He writes:
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And 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.
A number of things are worth noting. First, giving itself is a gift of God. Paul calls it “the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.” One author rightly observes, “‘Grace’ is a key word that appears ten times throughout these two chapters with differing nuances. Here it refers to human generosity, which Paul understands to be something given by God. Grace is God’s unconditional benevolence toward us. When people are spontaneously generous toward others, Paul takes it as clear evidence that God’s grace is working in and through them” (David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians, NAC, 365).
Second, if Macedonian believers could afford to give, all believers can afford to give. They were poor, perhaps as poor as their Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. Their poverty might have given rise to apathy but instead it gave rise to empathy. It opened their hearts and their purse strings to others.
Third, they gave as much as they were able; they didn’t hold back. In fact, they gave “even beyond their ability.” The NLT puts it this way: “They gave not only what they could afford, but far more.” They didn’t give a specific percentage; they didn’t even give proportionately. Each one decided how much to give and gave it. One might say, “If I only had $1000, I would give it,” and then give nothing at all. Better he gives the $100 or $10 or $1 that he has than not give the $1000 that he doesn’t. “The gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have” (v. 12).
Fourth, they gave freely. In fact, Paul says, “they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing.” Perhaps, he wasn’t expecting them to give (cf., v. 5) or even discouraged some from giving—unlikely—but they insisted. They gave themselves to the Lord and then to Paul and his project. Theirs is an example we would all do well to follow.
Central Message of the Text:
Give generously, freely, and cheerfully, knowing God is the one who blesses you and blesses your generosity.
Family Talk:
Many years ago, my middle son was playing with a bunch of friends on the playground. One girl had several jungle animals and they created a zoo that took them into another world for a while. When it was time to leave, she handed a small elephant to my son and told him to take it home. Not wanting to take this sweet girl’s toy, I began to politely decline the gift. Her wise mother stopped me and explained that generosity was a special area of giftedness for her daughter. She loved giving gifts and was openhanded with all she had. This was uncharted territory for me, and the moment has stuck with me for many reasons. I was impressed with this young girl of five who gave so generously. With three children three years apart, our family was still working on the concept of sharing. I was also impressed with this mom for recognizing and encouraging a gift her child was strong in at such a young age. I can only imagine this behavior was modeled by her parents. What a beautiful legacy to pass on. This week we study a lesson on being a cheerful giver. Do you think your child is a cheerful giver? Can you say you’re a cheerful giver? Personally, I’ve got a little work to do in this area. I’m praying we seek God asking Him to open our hearts and hands to freely give what He has blessed us with and is rightfully His anyway.