Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
The grace bestowed on the churches of Macedonia was God's own grace at work by His Spirit, stirring hearts to see the necessities of the work and producing liberality in deeds of charity. Those churches were in great trial of affliction and deep poverty, yet their abundance of joy abounded toward riches of liberality in pecuniary assistance for the needy saints at Jerusalem in a time of famine and sore need. They first gave their own selves to the Lord by the will of God, keeping nothing back, and then gave to their power and beyond their power, praying with much entreaty for the gift to be received as a privilege. Paul told his brethren at Corinth of this grace to kindle their zeal and awaken in them by the Holy Spirit a desire for similar self-denial and self-sacrifice, setting example before them rather than many commands. Self-giving liberality is the true basis of charity, for love and service to God are shown by loving and serving fellow men, and grace received is to be bestowed, God giving to them that they may give to others and receive still more abundantly as they impart.
Historical Setting and Wording
The grace spoken of is God's own grace at work, the special working of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of believers to stir them to see the necessities of the work in a correct light. That stirring leads to self-denial so that gifts flow into the treasury for proclaiming the message, producing liberality in deeds of charity and willing giving for other parts of the field even while local work is sustained without complaint. Those who have received grace bestow grace, and as they impart they receive more abundantly, for God gives to them that they may give to others. Surrender to the divine Spirit draws the heart out in tender, Christ-like compassion for the relief of the needy and suffering, working in harmony with the will of God to the glory of the Father. Such was the character revealed in Macedonia, counted by them their highest privilege and giving great satisfaction and joy through gratitude for the knowledge of Christ.
The churches of Macedonia were in great trial of affliction and deep poverty, comparatively poor and facing severe hardship. Yet their abundance of joy abounded toward riches of liberality, their love for God and the gospel overflowing in generous giving. That grace was displayed in joyful, liberal giving for suffering believers, willing and sacrificial even beyond their means.
Their gift was pecuniary assistance sent to their brethren, the needy saints at Jerusalem in Judea. The setting was a famine at Jerusalem, with famine and hardship among the Christians there. Many Christians had been scattered, and those who remained were likely to be deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity and greater need and deprivation. Paul therefore exhorted the churches to send help to relieve the afflicted saints, and the Macedonians gave joyfully and freely to help fellow believers facing that deprivation and hostility.
The collection had been proposed and already begun more than a year before, and Paul felt it should no longer be delayed but that the amount pledged should be gathered and sent. He charged Titus to visit the Corinthian church to finish the same grace in Corinth also, to present Christian liberality and stir it to the same good works. He was anxious that the Corinthians perform what they promised through grace working on their hearts, lest they be outstripped in liberality by the poorer Macedonians.
The amount raised by Macedonia far exceeded apostolic expectation, for Paul expected only a limited sum. He was happily disappointed and greatly surprised at the size of the gift and its wholehearted, eager manner, given with joy and gladness at being able to help. That self-denial and self-sacrifice brought thanksgiving and joy, producing liberality in deeds of charity beyond what was looked for.
Character of Macedonian Giving
The grace bestowed on Macedonia showed itself first in that the believers gave their own selves to the Lord by the will of God, consecrating themselves wholly and keeping nothing back, and then gave to His workers. This self-surrender was the spring of all the rest, for because they belonged to the Lord they willingly gave even beyond their means to help fellow believers and to support the gospel. In great trial of affliction and deep poverty their joy overflowed in liberality toward Christians in Jerusalem who faced deprivation and religious hostility after famine and scattering. The amount they raised far exceeded apostolic expectation, greatly surprising Paul by its size and wholehearted, eager manner.
They gave to their power and beyond their power, willing of themselves and not needing to be urged. They prayed with much entreaty that the gift might be received and that they might have a share in ministering to the saints, begging for fellowship in this service. To them giving was not a burden but a privilege to be sought, a glad opportunity to lay their offerings forward into the treasury. This eager pleading to be allowed to give expressed gratitude to Christ and love for fellow believers, and it stands as the basis of Christian charity.
Their giving was with abundance of joy and gladness at being able to help, with thankfulness and love for God and the gospel and the truth. That liberality grew from trust in the Lord, from sympathy for suffering fellow believers, and from tender Christ-like compassion toward the needy saints in Jerusalem and Judea in time of famine and hardship. Though poor and afflicted themselves, their love overflowed in generous, willing aid given freely even beyond their means.
It was self-denial and self-sacrifice that far exceeded what was looked for and brought thanksgiving, for they accepted great sacrifice for Christ and the truth. Though exceedingly poor, they gladly contributed to the afflicted believers in Jerusalem, even denying themselves necessities, and their willing self-denial overflowed in benevolence as an expression of trust in God. They treated what possessions they had as something to use for doing good, willingly helping Christians in greater need than themselves. Even amid poverty and hardship they willingly supported the Lord's work according to their circumstances, with gratitude to God and with generosity counted a privilege.
Paul's Appeal to Corinth
Paul made known to his brethren at Corinth the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia in order to kindle their zeal and stir them to contribute for the poor saints at Jerusalem. That grace had appeared in self-denial and self-sacrifice that far exceeded expectation and brought thanksgiving, and it was set before Corinth to arouse it to the same good works. Titus was charged to present Christian liberality and to visit Corinth to finish the same grace there, so that by divine inspiration the Corinthians would be awakened to the same spirit. Through the Holy Spirit working on minds and hearts, the telling of Macedonian liberality was meant to awaken in them a desire for similar deeds of charity, self-denial and self-sacrifice.
He organized giving by example rather than by many commands or theory, for example goes much further than theory or commands. From his own life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, fitted by tent-making and other labor to lead in good works, he sought to arouse Corinth to give for suffering brethren by calling attention to what God had done in Macedonia. He laid no command on Corinth but set before them the necessity of the church at Jerusalem and what others had given who had fewer advantages and less ability than they had. Burdened in soul for the poor saints, he set before them Macedonia's liberality in great affliction and deep poverty, giving to their power and beyond willingly and entreating a share in ministering to the saints after first giving themselves to the Lord, that Corinth would also finish the same grace of giving. He was anxious that they perform what they had proposed and already begun, lest they be outstripped in liberality by the poorer Macedonians.
He greatly desired to see in believers symmetry of Christian character, evidence of love, proof of sincere faith, a lively sense of obligation and accountability to God for the gospel, the gospel working as God's power bearing fruit to His honor, and diligent discharge of every duty under God's control. Such character was revealed by the Macedonians, and gave him great satisfaction and joy at their gratitude for knowing the Lord Jesus Christ, counting compliance with God's requirements by liberality to advance His glory their highest privilege. Openly telling of such self-sacrifice is not wrong when it reveals Christ's work and fills others with the same spirit of generosity. Such public mention is right when the aim is not to secure praise and honor from men but to magnify Christ the Giver through whose grace and power by the Holy Spirit the good work was done, with self hidden and glory given to God.
Spiritual Principles of Giving
Self-giving liberality is the true basis of charity according to the Word, for love and service to God are shown by loving and serving fellow men. The grace bestowed on the churches of Macedonia produced such liberality in deeds of charity, exceeding expectation, when in great trial of affliction and deep poverty their abundance of joy abounded toward riches of liberality. They first gave their own selves to the Lord by the will of God and then to His workers, giving to their power and beyond their power, willing of themselves and praying with much entreaty for the gift to be received and for a share in ministering to the saints. The occasion was pecuniary assistance for the needy saints at Jerusalem during a famine, when many Christians had been scattered and those remaining were likely deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity, and the collection had been begun and proposed more than a year before, so that Paul felt it should no longer be delayed but gathered and sent, charging Titus to finish the same grace at Corinth also, while the amount raised by Macedonia far exceeded apostolic expectation and was given with joy and gladness at being able to help. Surrender to the working of the divine Spirit draws the heart out in tender Christ-like compassion for the relief of the needy and suffering, recognizes obligation, works in harmony with the will of God, and glorifies the heavenly Father, springing from gratitude to Christ and love for fellow believers.
Grace received is to be bestowed, and those who impart receive more abundantly. God works on hearts by His Spirit to see entrusted means in a correct light and to see the necessities of the work, leading believers to give willingly for other parts of the field even while sustaining local work without complaint. As they impart they receive, for God gives to them that they may give to others, and reading the chapter spreads the inspiration of liberality to meet the pressing emergencies that arise in aggressive warfare. No large wealth or high education is essential to act a part in this blessed service, for a Christian is Christlike and works with the graces of Christ. The pattern is the Lord Jesus Christ who though He was rich yet for our sakes became poor that through His poverty we might be rich, and the same grace begun is to be finished and abounded in with faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence and love, proved by love and not by commandment.
Liberality that advances the kingdom of God is the very best evidence of the sincerity of faith. An appreciation of the rich endowment of the gifts of God leads to great benevolence, which Paul set before Corinth as an example by laying no command on them but setting before them the necessity of the church at Jerusalem and what others with fewer advantages and less ability had given. Character cannot be complete unless benevolence is expressed in returning to God His due by sustaining every good work, and everyone who has received the great gift of God is required to reveal the power of the truth in counterworking selfishness and self-indulgence, which is the true nature of fruit-bearing and making returns to God of the fruit from His vineyard, with love expressed in deeds, something tangible. The eighth and ninth chapters teach God's people to take hold and deny themselves likewise in self-denial and self-sacrifice in giving, so that rich blessings flow in upon them because of that denial, while to receive help from others without such denial deprives them of that blessing. The record of Macedonian liberality is to be presented to brethren for study, letting the Word teach the spirit of benevolence that should mark offerings and the blessings that will redound to those who manifest liberality. God by His Spirit stirs the hearts of His people to see the necessities of the work, leading them to deny self so that gifts flow into the treasury for the proclamation of the message for this time, making believers urge to give, praying with much entreaty to be allowed to lay their offerings forward and have the gift received.
The verse is instruction to be read for personal benefit over and over again, diligently and prayerfully, not only to be understood but to be practiced. Practicing it means giving oneself to the Lord to be guided and controlled by His Holy Spirit. It belongs among the lessons God has given for children to learn how to become members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King, a lesson parents should teach their children simply and lovingly, including self-denying giving to support God's work.
Present Applications of Example
The chapter opened by this verse is to be presented to brethren for study, letting the Word itself teach the spirit of benevolence that should mark offerings and the blessings that will redound to those who manifest liberality. It is to be read as an inspiration spreading liberality to meet the pressing emergencies that arise in aggressive warfare. Read with the following chapter, it teaches how to assist God's work through willing, generous giving.
The same privilege of liberal giving by God's grace that was given to Macedonia is open now to all who help in emergency with gifts to erect a memorial for the Lord in Sydney. Being poor does not shut anyone out from the privilege of giving, for even in much affliction and deep poverty joy can abound unto riches of liberality, giving to power and beyond power willingly and eagerly and praying for a share in ministering to the saints after first giving self wholly to the Lord and keeping nothing back. All brethren and sisters in the faith scattered abroad are called to give the necessary means for a substantial, economical building for the Sydney Sanitarium for uplifting people to an elevated plane of action. Such gifts can surprise the servants of the cause by their size and wholehearted, eager manner, far exceeding expectation, as the Macedonian amount did. By contributing toward a sanitarium that restores the sick, uplifts Jesus before the suffering, and trains workers to carry the same work to other places, givers lay up treasure in heaven.
The example is a lesson to be studied, heeded, and kept ever before those responsible for the destitute Southern field and for advance moves in foreign fields and unworked fields. The hard character of the field is no excuse for doing scarcely anything in it, and believers should emulate the liberal, self-sacrificing spirit even beyond their power and not let selfish motives lead them to withhold needed funds. The entire profits appointed for that field must be used in it and not diverted by deception to fields that have had much better advantages in every way. Neglect of the Lord's call brings increased wrong, His displeasure, reckoning in the judgment, and a demand to do more than begin where work should have begun years ago and to make restitution of diverted means, for the design for the work originates with God and the facilities and treasury are His, and He rewards according to the measure of neglect shown for His purposes and His specified methods.
The verse means God works on hearts to see entrusted means in a correct light, to devote means to God and give self to His service, giving God's work the means otherwise spent on selfish wants. This grace belongs to the circumstances of poor believers, seen when people with large families dependent on daily labor still give willingly and liberally of themselves to build a house where they can assemble to worship God and let their light shine, and when believers sustain local work without complaint while giving willingly for other parts of the field. It is applied to raising funds to free the institutions in Scandinavia from debt. These are God's directions on giving for His work to be read and acted on as Bible principles and counsel, so that God is glorified in His people and His glory goes with them as their rereward. Those who give liberally of the Lord's means learn that as they impart they receive, for God gives to them that they may give to others.
The example teaches churches to give willingly, even sacrificially, and to care for the needs of sister churches, as Macedonia in deep poverty freely urged acceptance of offerings to help believers in Jerusalem who were in greater need. That spirit of liberality is shown in willingness to give to those who had little and to support needed work thankfully in response to appeal for help, even when resources have to be limited and givers are exceedingly poor.
The grace bestowed on the churches of Macedonia was God's own grace at work by His Spirit, stirring hearts to see the necessities of the work and producing liberality in deeds of charity. Those churches were in great trial of affliction and deep poverty, yet their abundance of joy abounded toward riches of liberality in pecuniary assistance for the needy saints at Jerusalem in a time of famine and sore need. They first gave their own selves to the Lord by the will of God, keeping nothing back, and then gave to their power and beyond their power, praying with much entreaty for the gift to be received as a privilege. Paul told his brethren at Corinth of this grace to kindle their zeal and awaken in them by the Holy Spirit a desire for similar self-denial and self-sacrifice, setting example before them rather than many commands. Self-giving liberality is the true basis of charity, for love and service to God are shown by loving and serving fellow men, and grace received is to be bestowed, God giving to them that they may give to others and receive still more abundantly as they impart.
Historical Setting and Wording
The grace spoken of is God's own grace at work, the special working of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of believers to stir them to see the necessities of the work in a correct light. That stirring leads to self-denial so that gifts flow into the treasury for proclaiming the message, producing liberality in deeds of charity and willing giving for other parts of the field even while local work is sustained without complaint. Those who have received grace bestow grace, and as they impart they receive more abundantly, for God gives to them that they may give to others. Surrender to the divine Spirit draws the heart out in tender, Christ-like compassion for the relief of the needy and suffering, working in harmony with the will of God to the glory of the Father. Such was the character revealed in Macedonia, counted by them their highest privilege and giving great satisfaction and joy through gratitude for the knowledge of Christ.
The churches of Macedonia were in great trial of affliction and deep poverty, comparatively poor and facing severe hardship. Yet their abundance of joy abounded toward riches of liberality, their love for God and the gospel overflowing in generous giving. That grace was displayed in joyful, liberal giving for suffering believers, willing and sacrificial even beyond their means.
Their gift was pecuniary assistance sent to their brethren, the needy saints at Jerusalem in Judea. The setting was a famine at Jerusalem, with famine and hardship among the Christians there. Many Christians had been scattered, and those who remained were likely to be deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity and greater need and deprivation. Paul therefore exhorted the churches to send help to relieve the afflicted saints, and the Macedonians gave joyfully and freely to help fellow believers facing that deprivation and hostility.
The collection had been proposed and already begun more than a year before, and Paul felt it should no longer be delayed but that the amount pledged should be gathered and sent. He charged Titus to visit the Corinthian church to finish the same grace in Corinth also, to present Christian liberality and stir it to the same good works. He was anxious that the Corinthians perform what they promised through grace working on their hearts, lest they be outstripped in liberality by the poorer Macedonians.
The amount raised by Macedonia far exceeded apostolic expectation, for Paul expected only a limited sum. He was happily disappointed and greatly surprised at the size of the gift and its wholehearted, eager manner, given with joy and gladness at being able to help. That self-denial and self-sacrifice brought thanksgiving and joy, producing liberality in deeds of charity beyond what was looked for.
Character of Macedonian Giving
The grace bestowed on Macedonia showed itself first in that the believers gave their own selves to the Lord by the will of God, consecrating themselves wholly and keeping nothing back, and then gave to His workers. This self-surrender was the spring of all the rest, for because they belonged to the Lord they willingly gave even beyond their means to help fellow believers and to support the gospel. In great trial of affliction and deep poverty their joy overflowed in liberality toward Christians in Jerusalem who faced deprivation and religious hostility after famine and scattering. The amount they raised far exceeded apostolic expectation, greatly surprising Paul by its size and wholehearted, eager manner.
They gave to their power and beyond their power, willing of themselves and not needing to be urged. They prayed with much entreaty that the gift might be received and that they might have a share in ministering to the saints, begging for fellowship in this service. To them giving was not a burden but a privilege to be sought, a glad opportunity to lay their offerings forward into the treasury. This eager pleading to be allowed to give expressed gratitude to Christ and love for fellow believers, and it stands as the basis of Christian charity.
Their giving was with abundance of joy and gladness at being able to help, with thankfulness and love for God and the gospel and the truth. That liberality grew from trust in the Lord, from sympathy for suffering fellow believers, and from tender Christ-like compassion toward the needy saints in Jerusalem and Judea in time of famine and hardship. Though poor and afflicted themselves, their love overflowed in generous, willing aid given freely even beyond their means.
It was self-denial and self-sacrifice that far exceeded what was looked for and brought thanksgiving, for they accepted great sacrifice for Christ and the truth. Though exceedingly poor, they gladly contributed to the afflicted believers in Jerusalem, even denying themselves necessities, and their willing self-denial overflowed in benevolence as an expression of trust in God. They treated what possessions they had as something to use for doing good, willingly helping Christians in greater need than themselves. Even amid poverty and hardship they willingly supported the Lord's work according to their circumstances, with gratitude to God and with generosity counted a privilege.
Paul's Appeal to Corinth
Paul made known to his brethren at Corinth the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia in order to kindle their zeal and stir them to contribute for the poor saints at Jerusalem. That grace had appeared in self-denial and self-sacrifice that far exceeded expectation and brought thanksgiving, and it was set before Corinth to arouse it to the same good works. Titus was charged to present Christian liberality and to visit Corinth to finish the same grace there, so that by divine inspiration the Corinthians would be awakened to the same spirit. Through the Holy Spirit working on minds and hearts, the telling of Macedonian liberality was meant to awaken in them a desire for similar deeds of charity, self-denial and self-sacrifice.
He organized giving by example rather than by many commands or theory, for example goes much further than theory or commands. From his own life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, fitted by tent-making and other labor to lead in good works, he sought to arouse Corinth to give for suffering brethren by calling attention to what God had done in Macedonia. He laid no command on Corinth but set before them the necessity of the church at Jerusalem and what others had given who had fewer advantages and less ability than they had. Burdened in soul for the poor saints, he set before them Macedonia's liberality in great affliction and deep poverty, giving to their power and beyond willingly and entreating a share in ministering to the saints after first giving themselves to the Lord, that Corinth would also finish the same grace of giving. He was anxious that they perform what they had proposed and already begun, lest they be outstripped in liberality by the poorer Macedonians.
He greatly desired to see in believers symmetry of Christian character, evidence of love, proof of sincere faith, a lively sense of obligation and accountability to God for the gospel, the gospel working as God's power bearing fruit to His honor, and diligent discharge of every duty under God's control. Such character was revealed by the Macedonians, and gave him great satisfaction and joy at their gratitude for knowing the Lord Jesus Christ, counting compliance with God's requirements by liberality to advance His glory their highest privilege. Openly telling of such self-sacrifice is not wrong when it reveals Christ's work and fills others with the same spirit of generosity. Such public mention is right when the aim is not to secure praise and honor from men but to magnify Christ the Giver through whose grace and power by the Holy Spirit the good work was done, with self hidden and glory given to God.
Spiritual Principles of Giving
Self-giving liberality is the true basis of charity according to the Word, for love and service to God are shown by loving and serving fellow men. The grace bestowed on the churches of Macedonia produced such liberality in deeds of charity, exceeding expectation, when in great trial of affliction and deep poverty their abundance of joy abounded toward riches of liberality. They first gave their own selves to the Lord by the will of God and then to His workers, giving to their power and beyond their power, willing of themselves and praying with much entreaty for the gift to be received and for a share in ministering to the saints. The occasion was pecuniary assistance for the needy saints at Jerusalem during a famine, when many Christians had been scattered and those remaining were likely deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity, and the collection had been begun and proposed more than a year before, so that Paul felt it should no longer be delayed but gathered and sent, charging Titus to finish the same grace at Corinth also, while the amount raised by Macedonia far exceeded apostolic expectation and was given with joy and gladness at being able to help. Surrender to the working of the divine Spirit draws the heart out in tender Christ-like compassion for the relief of the needy and suffering, recognizes obligation, works in harmony with the will of God, and glorifies the heavenly Father, springing from gratitude to Christ and love for fellow believers.
Grace received is to be bestowed, and those who impart receive more abundantly. God works on hearts by His Spirit to see entrusted means in a correct light and to see the necessities of the work, leading believers to give willingly for other parts of the field even while sustaining local work without complaint. As they impart they receive, for God gives to them that they may give to others, and reading the chapter spreads the inspiration of liberality to meet the pressing emergencies that arise in aggressive warfare. No large wealth or high education is essential to act a part in this blessed service, for a Christian is Christlike and works with the graces of Christ. The pattern is the Lord Jesus Christ who though He was rich yet for our sakes became poor that through His poverty we might be rich, and the same grace begun is to be finished and abounded in with faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence and love, proved by love and not by commandment.
Liberality that advances the kingdom of God is the very best evidence of the sincerity of faith. An appreciation of the rich endowment of the gifts of God leads to great benevolence, which Paul set before Corinth as an example by laying no command on them but setting before them the necessity of the church at Jerusalem and what others with fewer advantages and less ability had given. Character cannot be complete unless benevolence is expressed in returning to God His due by sustaining every good work, and everyone who has received the great gift of God is required to reveal the power of the truth in counterworking selfishness and self-indulgence, which is the true nature of fruit-bearing and making returns to God of the fruit from His vineyard, with love expressed in deeds, something tangible. The eighth and ninth chapters teach God's people to take hold and deny themselves likewise in self-denial and self-sacrifice in giving, so that rich blessings flow in upon them because of that denial, while to receive help from others without such denial deprives them of that blessing. The record of Macedonian liberality is to be presented to brethren for study, letting the Word teach the spirit of benevolence that should mark offerings and the blessings that will redound to those who manifest liberality. God by His Spirit stirs the hearts of His people to see the necessities of the work, leading them to deny self so that gifts flow into the treasury for the proclamation of the message for this time, making believers urge to give, praying with much entreaty to be allowed to lay their offerings forward and have the gift received.
The verse is instruction to be read for personal benefit over and over again, diligently and prayerfully, not only to be understood but to be practiced. Practicing it means giving oneself to the Lord to be guided and controlled by His Holy Spirit. It belongs among the lessons God has given for children to learn how to become members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King, a lesson parents should teach their children simply and lovingly, including self-denying giving to support God's work.
Present Applications of Example
The chapter opened by this verse is to be presented to brethren for study, letting the Word itself teach the spirit of benevolence that should mark offerings and the blessings that will redound to those who manifest liberality. It is to be read as an inspiration spreading liberality to meet the pressing emergencies that arise in aggressive warfare. Read with the following chapter, it teaches how to assist God's work through willing, generous giving.
The same privilege of liberal giving by God's grace that was given to Macedonia is open now to all who help in emergency with gifts to erect a memorial for the Lord in Sydney. Being poor does not shut anyone out from the privilege of giving, for even in much affliction and deep poverty joy can abound unto riches of liberality, giving to power and beyond power willingly and eagerly and praying for a share in ministering to the saints after first giving self wholly to the Lord and keeping nothing back. All brethren and sisters in the faith scattered abroad are called to give the necessary means for a substantial, economical building for the Sydney Sanitarium for uplifting people to an elevated plane of action. Such gifts can surprise the servants of the cause by their size and wholehearted, eager manner, far exceeding expectation, as the Macedonian amount did. By contributing toward a sanitarium that restores the sick, uplifts Jesus before the suffering, and trains workers to carry the same work to other places, givers lay up treasure in heaven.
The example is a lesson to be studied, heeded, and kept ever before those responsible for the destitute Southern field and for advance moves in foreign fields and unworked fields. The hard character of the field is no excuse for doing scarcely anything in it, and believers should emulate the liberal, self-sacrificing spirit even beyond their power and not let selfish motives lead them to withhold needed funds. The entire profits appointed for that field must be used in it and not diverted by deception to fields that have had much better advantages in every way. Neglect of the Lord's call brings increased wrong, His displeasure, reckoning in the judgment, and a demand to do more than begin where work should have begun years ago and to make restitution of diverted means, for the design for the work originates with God and the facilities and treasury are His, and He rewards according to the measure of neglect shown for His purposes and His specified methods.
The verse means God works on hearts to see entrusted means in a correct light, to devote means to God and give self to His service, giving God's work the means otherwise spent on selfish wants. This grace belongs to the circumstances of poor believers, seen when people with large families dependent on daily labor still give willingly and liberally of themselves to build a house where they can assemble to worship God and let their light shine, and when believers sustain local work without complaint while giving willingly for other parts of the field. It is applied to raising funds to free the institutions in Scandinavia from debt. These are God's directions on giving for His work to be read and acted on as Bible principles and counsel, so that God is glorified in His people and His glory goes with them as their rereward. Those who give liberally of the Lord's means learn that as they impart they receive, for God gives to them that they may give to others.
The example teaches churches to give willingly, even sacrificially, and to care for the needs of sister churches, as Macedonia in deep poverty freely urged acceptance of offerings to help believers in Jerusalem who were in greater need. That spirit of liberality is shown in willingness to give to those who had little and to support needed work thankfully in response to appeal for help, even when resources have to be limited and givers are exceedingly poor.