For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
The poor believers in Macedonia gave up to what they were able and even past it, freely and of their own choice without being forced or urged. They begged for the privilege of helping the needy saints in Judea, giving with overflowing joy and glad self-denial even out of deep poverty and affliction. They could give like this because they had first given themselves wholly to the Lord, and His grace and Spirit made them liberal in Christ's likeness. Paul held them up as the right example to stir others to the same benevolence, showing that one true example does more than many commands. Poverty still shuts no one out from this privilege, for all are to sow bountifully by God's direction, limit their own wants, and help other churches and needy fields as God stirs their hearts.
Historical Setting and Need
The givers were the churches of Macedonia, including Philippi, poor Gentile believers living in great trial of affliction and deep poverty at a time when new churches were being raised up and the truth was going everywhere. Their giving according to means and even beyond means was willing and voluntary, flowing from having first given themselves to the Lord. Though deeply poor and themselves driven from their homes, some shared clothing and food, accepting hardship so they could help. They urgently asked with much entreaty to share in ministering to the saints, and their deep poverty overflowed into riches of liberality with abundance of joy.
The gift was for fellow believers in Jerusalem and Judea, Christians suffering famine and hardship who were in greater need than the givers themselves. Many Christians there had been scattered, and those who remained were deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity. They were afflicted believers left destitute by famine, hardship, scattering, loss of human sympathy, and religious hostility. The Macedonians, though poor and afflicted, gladly sacrificed necessities to relieve their suffering, moved by love of the truth, sympathy born of their own trials, and trust in the Lord.
Paul had exhorted the churches to send money to help them, and the collection had been begun more than a year before and needed to be gathered and sent without further delay. The amount raised by the Macedonians exceeded expectations, leaving Paul happily disappointed and filled with thanksgiving at their willing, self-denying self-sacrifice. Taking courage from their example, he wrote that Titus should stir up the church in Corinth and finish in them the same grace, finishing the collection the Corinthians had proposed and begun and adding to the means collected in Macedonia. This move was of God's inspiration to arouse the same spirit of willing liberality in Corinth, lest the Corinthians, with greater advantages and ability, be outstripped in liberality by the poorer Macedonians.
Willing Giving Beyond Means
The giving reached to full ability and then went beyond ability, willingly of themselves, voluntarily and of personal accord and choice, without being forced, pressed, urged, or compelled. It was not merely in proportion to what was possessed but beyond what could comfortably be afforded, and a small amount from daily labor while supporting a large family counts as liberal when given in such deep poverty. It meant devoting means to God as well as giving self to His service.
They prayed with much entreaty for the privilege of sharing in ministering to the saints, urgently asking to be allowed to give and to take part in the fellowship of relief. When restraint was offered they importuned that the contribution be received and carried to the afflicted, urging that their gift be accepted. Their begging came from an entire consecration of themselves and all they had, kept nothing back.
Their giving overflowed from deep poverty into riches of liberality despite great trial of affliction, marked by abundance of joy and gladness and cheerfulness and thankfulness at being able to help. They were filled with joy and gladness that they could help Christians in Jerusalem during famine and hardship, and this willing, joyful giving beyond power is the true basis of charity. They were moved by love of the truth, sympathy born of their own trials, and trust in the Lord.
The self-denial was concrete: though deeply poor and themselves driven from their homes, some shared clothing and food with suffering believers, accepting hardship so they could help. Where they had no money they denied themselves food and clothing to make the offering, gladly sacrificing necessities to help the afflicted believers in Judea. They gave what they could and even beyond what their means appeared to allow, rejoicing in the opportunity.
Paul bears record of this giving, holding it up as given to power, yea and beyond power, willing of themselves. He expected only a limited sum and was happily disappointed and greatly surprised, with the other servants surprised by the liberality, since the amount far exceeded expectations. The surprise was both at the amount given and at the wholehearted, eager manner in which it was bestowed.
Rooted in Self Consecration
The willingness to give to the limit of ability and beyond it flowed from a prior act, for the givers had first given their own selves to the Lord and to His workers by the will of God. That first gift was an entire consecration of themselves and all they had to the Lord, keeping nothing back. The first work for each person is to put self into the Lord's hands as willing and ready to do anything He sets before them in His way.
This liberality was produced by the grace of God bestowed upon them and by the special working of the Holy Spirit on the heart. The Spirit wrought a great change in seekers of truth who had tasted heavenly manna and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, transforming them into the likeness of Christ. So transformed, they became representative of what a church enlightened by the word of God may become, and the same grace is able to do the same transforming work in character today. True giving does not require great wealth or high education, but comes from first receiving grace and then bestowing grace, so that as grace is imparted it is received more abundantly. Telling of what Christ had wrought in them to encourage others to share the same spirit is not self-display.
They were moved by trust in the Lord and love for fellow believers, giving gladly to relieve suffering Christians even while poor and afflicted themselves. Love of the truth and sympathy born of their own trials joined with that trust to prompt their generosity. Their willing liberality also came from gratitude for the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that to give liberally to advance His glory was felt to be their highest privilege. The divine Spirit drew them into Christ-like compassion to relieve need and suffering, and they recognized their duty and acted in harmony with God's will, glorifying Him. Where they had no money they expressed that trust by denying themselves food and clothing to make the offering, revealing Christian simplicity, integrity, love for the brethren, self-denial, and fruit of benevolence.
Such self-sacrificing giving is a fruit of Christ's grace and evidence of sincere love, not a way to earn God's favor. In their smaller gifts they manifested the same spirit as David in his larger offering, that all given comes from God. When a people have an earnest longing to help where help is needed in advancing God's cause, the Lord imparts to such consecrated, unselfish ones a heart to give gladly as if it were a privilege. Their pattern reflects the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who though rich became poor that through His poverty believers might be rich, calling all to abound in this grace also.
Example to Stir Others
Paul held up the churches of Macedonia as the correct example to the believers in Corinth to kindle their zeal and stir them to benevolent action in making a contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Taking courage from that willing, self-denying self-sacrifice to ability and beyond ability, he wrote by epistle that Titus should visit Corinth to stir up the church to the same good works, presenting Christian liberality before them and finishing in them the same grace so as to add to the means already collected in Macedonia. The move was of God's inspiration to arouse the same spirit of willing liberality in Corinth, lest the Corinthians be outstripped in liberality by the poorer Macedonians. One correct example is worth more than many commands, and a true organizer leads by self-denial and self-sacrifice, since example goes much further than theory or commands.
Paul laid no command on the Corinthian brethren but set before them the necessity of the church at Jerusalem and the example of the Macedonians, who gave though they had fewer advantages and less ability than the Corinthians, to induce the Corinthians to give. Every converted soul who appreciates the rich endowment of God's gifts will show great benevolence, and character cannot be complete unless benevolence is expressed in returning to God His due by sustaining every good work. God moved on those believers in their deep poverty to bestow liberally so that their example might be recorded to lead others to the same beneficence. Through the Holy Spirit that recorded example awakens others to similar deeds of charity, exciting the same spirit of self-denial, self-sacrifice and glad, unselfish beneficence, so that even those who are poor are not shut out from the privilege of giving to advance His cause.
Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, did not conceal what Christ had wrought in them but openly told it as the grace Christ had wrought in them, so that others would be imbued with the same spirit. Telling of such grace to encourage others is not self-display, and Christ's command to give alms in secret does not mean acts of kindness must always be kept secret. The verse calls for symmetry of Christian character, with believers showing a lively sense of obligation and accountability to God for the gospel and with all diligence discharging every duty as Christians under the control of God. Love is to be evidenced, the sincerity of faith proved, and fruit borne to the honor of God, with liberality in lines that advance the kingdom as the very best evidence of the sincerity of faith, love expressed in deeds, something tangible, counterworking selfishness and self-indulgence.
All money, time, labor and property so given is the Lord's entrusted capital, given to test whether men will serve Him and do right because it is right, which He could do without but accepts as tokens of loyalty. Faithfulness in giving the self to Him decides eternal destiny and fitness for His pure heavenly kingdom and a crown of glory. The first work for each person is to put self into the Lord's hands as willing and ready to do anything He sets before them in His way.
Pattern for Giving Today
2 Corinthians 8 together with 2 Corinthians 9 is God's direction for giving to be studied, read, taken as counselor, and acted upon as Bible principle. That direction is to sow bountifully and not sparingly in the Lord's work, using means willingly for God rather than spending them on selfish wants. It is instruction parents and children are to understand and practice, that giving is willing and may go beyond one's means.
Following these directions glorifies God in His people, makes His glory their rereward, and brings rich blessing upon the self-denying and self-sacrificing. As His people impart of the Lord's entrusted means, they receive, for God gives to them that they may give to others. Even a small amount from daily labor while supporting a large family is liberal when given in deep poverty, and the Lord blesses those who give in this willing way.
When God by His Spirit stirs hearts and leads His people to see the necessities of the work and of the message for this time, they deny self and give to their power and beyond their power willingly of themselves. They come and lay their offerings down and pray with much entreaty that the gift will be received, so that gifts flow into the treasury. They willingly unite to give for other parts of the field without complaint even when many calls for means press at home, and reading the chapter catches the inspiration of liberality to see things in a correct light and meet pressing emergencies arising in aggressive warfare.
Poverty shuts no one out from the privilege of giving, for even the poor may give up to ability and beyond it of their own willing choice. The verse is the testimony for leaving nothing undone to close the Washington fund during the General Conference, with self-denial and support for proclaiming the truth as God's Spirit moves hearts to recognize the needs of His work there. The same privilege belongs to believers now to do their best in emergency with entrusted means and lay up treasure in heaven by contributing toward a substantial, economical memorial for the Lord such as the Sydney sanitarium to restore the sick, bring truth before higher classes, and train workers to extend the blessing, presented as a model for Australians and for scattered poor brethren alike, whom poverty does not exclude.
It teaches how to meet the needs of God's work by contributing to relieve the debt of the institutions in Scandinavia. Hardness of a field is no excuse for doing scarcely anything, and for the destitute Southern field it requires putting entire profits raised for that field into that field without diverting them to better-advantaged fields, making restitution for means diverted, and doing more than merely beginning where work should have begun years ago, since neglect will be met in the judgment and reward will be according to God's purposes and specified methods. It calls for emulating the Macedonian liberal spirit by freely supplying funds needed in foreign fields and unworked fields rather than selfishly withholding them.
It applies to devoting means to God as well as giving self to His service in building a house to worship God. It is fulfilled when poor believers with small daily wages to support large families, poor health, and very little ministerial labor give nobly, such as raising funds to help a school and paying from their own little to send others to camp meeting, and those who so give gain a great blessing. Providing for their need by large donations from others in a way that removes their part deprives the many who are ready to deny themselves of that blessing. Its lesson in generous support for those in need means each church should help meet the needs of other churches, believers should limit their own wants to help those who have little, treat possessions as resources for doing good beyond their own church, and willingly follow the Macedonian example in supporting the Lord's work and helping the suffering.
The poor believers in Macedonia gave up to what they were able and even past it, freely and of their own choice without being forced or urged. They begged for the privilege of helping the needy saints in Judea, giving with overflowing joy and glad self-denial even out of deep poverty and affliction. They could give like this because they had first given themselves wholly to the Lord, and His grace and Spirit made them liberal in Christ's likeness. Paul held them up as the right example to stir others to the same benevolence, showing that one true example does more than many commands. Poverty still shuts no one out from this privilege, for all are to sow bountifully by God's direction, limit their own wants, and help other churches and needy fields as God stirs their hearts.
Historical Setting and Need
The givers were the churches of Macedonia, including Philippi, poor Gentile believers living in great trial of affliction and deep poverty at a time when new churches were being raised up and the truth was going everywhere. Their giving according to means and even beyond means was willing and voluntary, flowing from having first given themselves to the Lord. Though deeply poor and themselves driven from their homes, some shared clothing and food, accepting hardship so they could help. They urgently asked with much entreaty to share in ministering to the saints, and their deep poverty overflowed into riches of liberality with abundance of joy.
The gift was for fellow believers in Jerusalem and Judea, Christians suffering famine and hardship who were in greater need than the givers themselves. Many Christians there had been scattered, and those who remained were deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity. They were afflicted believers left destitute by famine, hardship, scattering, loss of human sympathy, and religious hostility. The Macedonians, though poor and afflicted, gladly sacrificed necessities to relieve their suffering, moved by love of the truth, sympathy born of their own trials, and trust in the Lord.
Paul had exhorted the churches to send money to help them, and the collection had been begun more than a year before and needed to be gathered and sent without further delay. The amount raised by the Macedonians exceeded expectations, leaving Paul happily disappointed and filled with thanksgiving at their willing, self-denying self-sacrifice. Taking courage from their example, he wrote that Titus should stir up the church in Corinth and finish in them the same grace, finishing the collection the Corinthians had proposed and begun and adding to the means collected in Macedonia. This move was of God's inspiration to arouse the same spirit of willing liberality in Corinth, lest the Corinthians, with greater advantages and ability, be outstripped in liberality by the poorer Macedonians.
Willing Giving Beyond Means
The giving reached to full ability and then went beyond ability, willingly of themselves, voluntarily and of personal accord and choice, without being forced, pressed, urged, or compelled. It was not merely in proportion to what was possessed but beyond what could comfortably be afforded, and a small amount from daily labor while supporting a large family counts as liberal when given in such deep poverty. It meant devoting means to God as well as giving self to His service.
They prayed with much entreaty for the privilege of sharing in ministering to the saints, urgently asking to be allowed to give and to take part in the fellowship of relief. When restraint was offered they importuned that the contribution be received and carried to the afflicted, urging that their gift be accepted. Their begging came from an entire consecration of themselves and all they had, kept nothing back.
Their giving overflowed from deep poverty into riches of liberality despite great trial of affliction, marked by abundance of joy and gladness and cheerfulness and thankfulness at being able to help. They were filled with joy and gladness that they could help Christians in Jerusalem during famine and hardship, and this willing, joyful giving beyond power is the true basis of charity. They were moved by love of the truth, sympathy born of their own trials, and trust in the Lord.
The self-denial was concrete: though deeply poor and themselves driven from their homes, some shared clothing and food with suffering believers, accepting hardship so they could help. Where they had no money they denied themselves food and clothing to make the offering, gladly sacrificing necessities to help the afflicted believers in Judea. They gave what they could and even beyond what their means appeared to allow, rejoicing in the opportunity.
Paul bears record of this giving, holding it up as given to power, yea and beyond power, willing of themselves. He expected only a limited sum and was happily disappointed and greatly surprised, with the other servants surprised by the liberality, since the amount far exceeded expectations. The surprise was both at the amount given and at the wholehearted, eager manner in which it was bestowed.
Rooted in Self Consecration
The willingness to give to the limit of ability and beyond it flowed from a prior act, for the givers had first given their own selves to the Lord and to His workers by the will of God. That first gift was an entire consecration of themselves and all they had to the Lord, keeping nothing back. The first work for each person is to put self into the Lord's hands as willing and ready to do anything He sets before them in His way.
This liberality was produced by the grace of God bestowed upon them and by the special working of the Holy Spirit on the heart. The Spirit wrought a great change in seekers of truth who had tasted heavenly manna and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, transforming them into the likeness of Christ. So transformed, they became representative of what a church enlightened by the word of God may become, and the same grace is able to do the same transforming work in character today. True giving does not require great wealth or high education, but comes from first receiving grace and then bestowing grace, so that as grace is imparted it is received more abundantly. Telling of what Christ had wrought in them to encourage others to share the same spirit is not self-display.
They were moved by trust in the Lord and love for fellow believers, giving gladly to relieve suffering Christians even while poor and afflicted themselves. Love of the truth and sympathy born of their own trials joined with that trust to prompt their generosity. Their willing liberality also came from gratitude for the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that to give liberally to advance His glory was felt to be their highest privilege. The divine Spirit drew them into Christ-like compassion to relieve need and suffering, and they recognized their duty and acted in harmony with God's will, glorifying Him. Where they had no money they expressed that trust by denying themselves food and clothing to make the offering, revealing Christian simplicity, integrity, love for the brethren, self-denial, and fruit of benevolence.
Such self-sacrificing giving is a fruit of Christ's grace and evidence of sincere love, not a way to earn God's favor. In their smaller gifts they manifested the same spirit as David in his larger offering, that all given comes from God. When a people have an earnest longing to help where help is needed in advancing God's cause, the Lord imparts to such consecrated, unselfish ones a heart to give gladly as if it were a privilege. Their pattern reflects the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who though rich became poor that through His poverty believers might be rich, calling all to abound in this grace also.
Example to Stir Others
Paul held up the churches of Macedonia as the correct example to the believers in Corinth to kindle their zeal and stir them to benevolent action in making a contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Taking courage from that willing, self-denying self-sacrifice to ability and beyond ability, he wrote by epistle that Titus should visit Corinth to stir up the church to the same good works, presenting Christian liberality before them and finishing in them the same grace so as to add to the means already collected in Macedonia. The move was of God's inspiration to arouse the same spirit of willing liberality in Corinth, lest the Corinthians be outstripped in liberality by the poorer Macedonians. One correct example is worth more than many commands, and a true organizer leads by self-denial and self-sacrifice, since example goes much further than theory or commands.
Paul laid no command on the Corinthian brethren but set before them the necessity of the church at Jerusalem and the example of the Macedonians, who gave though they had fewer advantages and less ability than the Corinthians, to induce the Corinthians to give. Every converted soul who appreciates the rich endowment of God's gifts will show great benevolence, and character cannot be complete unless benevolence is expressed in returning to God His due by sustaining every good work. God moved on those believers in their deep poverty to bestow liberally so that their example might be recorded to lead others to the same beneficence. Through the Holy Spirit that recorded example awakens others to similar deeds of charity, exciting the same spirit of self-denial, self-sacrifice and glad, unselfish beneficence, so that even those who are poor are not shut out from the privilege of giving to advance His cause.
Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, did not conceal what Christ had wrought in them but openly told it as the grace Christ had wrought in them, so that others would be imbued with the same spirit. Telling of such grace to encourage others is not self-display, and Christ's command to give alms in secret does not mean acts of kindness must always be kept secret. The verse calls for symmetry of Christian character, with believers showing a lively sense of obligation and accountability to God for the gospel and with all diligence discharging every duty as Christians under the control of God. Love is to be evidenced, the sincerity of faith proved, and fruit borne to the honor of God, with liberality in lines that advance the kingdom as the very best evidence of the sincerity of faith, love expressed in deeds, something tangible, counterworking selfishness and self-indulgence.
All money, time, labor and property so given is the Lord's entrusted capital, given to test whether men will serve Him and do right because it is right, which He could do without but accepts as tokens of loyalty. Faithfulness in giving the self to Him decides eternal destiny and fitness for His pure heavenly kingdom and a crown of glory. The first work for each person is to put self into the Lord's hands as willing and ready to do anything He sets before them in His way.
Pattern for Giving Today
2 Corinthians 8 together with 2 Corinthians 9 is God's direction for giving to be studied, read, taken as counselor, and acted upon as Bible principle. That direction is to sow bountifully and not sparingly in the Lord's work, using means willingly for God rather than spending them on selfish wants. It is instruction parents and children are to understand and practice, that giving is willing and may go beyond one's means.
Following these directions glorifies God in His people, makes His glory their rereward, and brings rich blessing upon the self-denying and self-sacrificing. As His people impart of the Lord's entrusted means, they receive, for God gives to them that they may give to others. Even a small amount from daily labor while supporting a large family is liberal when given in deep poverty, and the Lord blesses those who give in this willing way.
When God by His Spirit stirs hearts and leads His people to see the necessities of the work and of the message for this time, they deny self and give to their power and beyond their power willingly of themselves. They come and lay their offerings down and pray with much entreaty that the gift will be received, so that gifts flow into the treasury. They willingly unite to give for other parts of the field without complaint even when many calls for means press at home, and reading the chapter catches the inspiration of liberality to see things in a correct light and meet pressing emergencies arising in aggressive warfare.
Poverty shuts no one out from the privilege of giving, for even the poor may give up to ability and beyond it of their own willing choice. The verse is the testimony for leaving nothing undone to close the Washington fund during the General Conference, with self-denial and support for proclaiming the truth as God's Spirit moves hearts to recognize the needs of His work there. The same privilege belongs to believers now to do their best in emergency with entrusted means and lay up treasure in heaven by contributing toward a substantial, economical memorial for the Lord such as the Sydney sanitarium to restore the sick, bring truth before higher classes, and train workers to extend the blessing, presented as a model for Australians and for scattered poor brethren alike, whom poverty does not exclude.
It teaches how to meet the needs of God's work by contributing to relieve the debt of the institutions in Scandinavia. Hardness of a field is no excuse for doing scarcely anything, and for the destitute Southern field it requires putting entire profits raised for that field into that field without diverting them to better-advantaged fields, making restitution for means diverted, and doing more than merely beginning where work should have begun years ago, since neglect will be met in the judgment and reward will be according to God's purposes and specified methods. It calls for emulating the Macedonian liberal spirit by freely supplying funds needed in foreign fields and unworked fields rather than selfishly withholding them.
It applies to devoting means to God as well as giving self to His service in building a house to worship God. It is fulfilled when poor believers with small daily wages to support large families, poor health, and very little ministerial labor give nobly, such as raising funds to help a school and paying from their own little to send others to camp meeting, and those who so give gain a great blessing. Providing for their need by large donations from others in a way that removes their part deprives the many who are ready to deny themselves of that blessing. Its lesson in generous support for those in need means each church should help meet the needs of other churches, believers should limit their own wants to help those who have little, treat possessions as resources for doing good beyond their own church, and willingly follow the Macedonian example in supporting the Lord's work and helping the suffering.