2 Corinthians 8:4, commentary and pictures

The verse describes the poor churches of Macedonia in deep poverty and affliction begging Paul and his fellow workers to accept their money gift for the needy believers in Jerusalem and let them share in serving them. Their giving was willing and unurged, sought eagerly as a privilege and joy rather than a duty imposed from without. In abundance of joy their deep poverty overflowed in riches of liberality, giving to their power and beyond their power even to self-denial of food and clothing. They first gave their own selves wholly to the Lord by the will of God, keeping nothing back, and only then gave their means. Paul set this example before the Corinthians to kindle zeal and finish the same grace in them, teaching that all means are the Lord's entrusted capital and that such liberality proves sincerity of love and completes Christian character.

Words and Historical Setting

The entreaty in the verse is the Macedonian believers earnestly, eagerly and repeatedly begging Paul and his fellow workers to receive their gift and to take upon them the fellowship of ministering to the saints. They prayed with much entreaty to be allowed to give and to share in caring for and serving fellow believers in need. Their asking was voluntary and joyful, even sacrificial, flowing from first giving themselves wholly to the Lord, and they treated helping others as a privilege.

The givers were the churches of Macedonia, living in great trial of affliction with deep poverty. They included the poor believers at Philippi. Despite severe affliction their deep poverty abounded with abundance of joy unto riches of liberality.

The ministering was pecuniary assistance, financial aid and a practical share in caring for the needy Christian brethren in Jerusalem and Judea. Those brethren faced deprivation after a famine, and many Christians there had been scattered abroad while those who remained were deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity. Paul presented this contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem in his letter to Corinth to kindle zeal and stir benevolent action. Though poor and afflicted themselves, the Macedonians gave generously and rejoiced that they could help relieve suffering believers, even beyond their means.

Paul at first tried to restrain the Macedonians because of their poverty, and restraint was offered to them. They nevertheless wanted him and Barnabas to carry their contribution to Jerusalem. They trusted Paul to convey it, and their giving expressed love and sympathy across the divide between Gentile and Jewish believers to a church poorer than their own, counting possessions only as a means of doing good.

The collection for Jerusalem had been begun more than a year before and was to be gathered in and sent without further delay. Paul both wrote about it to Corinth and sent Titus to finish in Corinth the same grace they had proposed and already begun and promised. He was anxious that they perform what they had promised, and the Corinthians willingly responded by taking part in caring for fellow believers in need.

Spirit of Willing Liberality

The giving was willing of itself and unurged, not pressed as a duty from without but eagerly and repeatedly sought as a privilege and joy. No urging was needed to draw it out, for instead of waiting to be asked they prayed with much entreaty to be allowed to give and to take part in ministering to the saints. In great trial of affliction their deep poverty abounded with abundance of joy unto riches of liberality by the grace of God bestowed on them. That liberality was the grace of God upon them through the work of the Holy Spirit on the heart, first receiving grace and then bestowing grace and receiving grace more abundantly as they imparted.

They gave to their power and beyond their power, even beyond their means. The contribution rejoiced to help Christians in Jerusalem facing deprivation after famine, and joy in giving carried them past what ability seemed to allow. Paul had expected only a limited sum and was happily disappointed and greatly surprised at both the amount given and the wholehearted, eager manner in which it was bestowed, for their self-denial and self-sacrifice far exceeded expectation. They first gave their own selves wholly to the Lord and to His workers by the will of God, keeping nothing back and consecrating themselves and all they had, and only then gave their means. This order was the reason for all the rest, that having given themselves they came forward of themselves to give what they possessed.

Their liberality was self-denial and self-sacrifice, even denying themselves food and clothing to make the offering. They counted possessions only as a means of doing good, and despite their own poverty helped a church poorer than their own. Their charitable service flowed from Christ's grace and self-sacrificing love and the special working of the Holy Spirit on the heart. Yielding to the divine Spirit drew them to Christlike compassion, gratitude to Christ for the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, love for fellow believers, trust in God, and obedience in meeting obligation in harmony with God's will to glorify the Father and advance His glory.

Example to Stir Others

Paul used the Macedonian entreaty to be allowed to give in his letter to Corinth to kindle zeal and stir benevolent action for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Their praying with much entreaty to receive the gift and share the fellowship of ministering to the saints was held up to arouse Corinth to contribute and to finish in them the same grace they had proposed and begun. The aim was that as Corinth abounded in faith and utterance and knowledge and diligence and love, they would abound in this grace also, performing what they had promised through grace working on their hearts. This arousing of the same spirit in Corinth was a movement of the inspiration of God, showing the special working of the Holy Spirit on believers, and Paul took courage from Macedonia to send Titus to stir up Corinth to the same good works.

One correct example is worth more than many commands, because example moves people much further than theory or commands. A life of self-denial and self-sacrifice in common labor fits a person to organize good works.

No command was laid on Corinth, but the Macedonian example was set before them to induce giving, since Macedonia had fewer advantages and less ability than Corinth. Paul both wrote and sent Titus lest Corinth be outstripped in liberality by the comparatively poor Macedonian churches. What he desired was symmetry of Christian character, evidence of love, proof of the sincerity of faith, a lively sense of obligation and accountability to God for the gospel and its power working in them, testimony by yielded fruit to God's honor, and diligent discharge of every duty as Christians under God's control. Every converted soul who appreciates God's rich gifts will show great benevolence in returning His due to sustain every good work and advance His kingdom, and such liberality completes Christian character and symmetry of faith, counterworks selfishness and self-indulgence, bears the true fruit of God's vineyard, and gives the best tangible evidence of faith and love expressed in deeds.

Openly telling of the Macedonians' generous self-sacrifice as proof of the grace Christ wrought in them does not break Christ's command to give alms in secret. That command forbids charity done to secure praise and honor from men, not all knowledge of kind acts. When told with self hidden and Christ magnified to glorify God the Giver rather than the receiver, such reporting puts the same spirit in others and stirs very many to zeal, inspiring others to give.

Principles of Christian Stewardship

The pleading to receive the gift and share in ministering to the saints sets forth the true basis of charity according to the Word of God. That ministering was pecuniary assistance for the brethren in Jerusalem in a time of famine, when many Christians there had been scattered abroad and those who remained were deprived of human sympathy and exposed to religious enmity. The collection had been begun more than a year before and was to be gathered in and sent without further delay, and though in great trial of affliction and deep poverty the Macedonians gave to their power and beyond their power of themselves, with abundance of joy, exceeding expectations, having first given themselves to the Lord. The whole matter of gaining God's blessing through giving is outlined in the eighth and ninth chapters of Second Corinthians, where believers came to the apostles and laid their offerings at their feet, pleading to be allowed to give and to take part in ministering to the saints. Those chapters contain the Lord's work and His directions on giving, to be taken as Bible principles and as counsellor, and when God's people follow those directions God is glorified in them and the glory of the Lord is their rereward. When God by His Spirit stirs the hearts of His people to see the necessities of the work, they deny self and gifts flow into the treasury for the proclamation of the message for this time.

Devoting means to God goes with giving oneself to His service. All that is possessed is the Lord's entrusted capital given to test whether men will serve Him. Faithfulness in giving self, time, labor and money is accepted as a token of loyalty and decides fitness for His heavenly kingdom. Believers in deep poverty with large families dependent on daily labor in hard and trying times earnestly ask for the privilege of sharing in ministering to the saints, giving to their power and beyond their power willingly of themselves, as in giving liberally to build a humble church where they can assemble to worship God and let their light shine to others. Such liberal giving is blessed by the Lord, for all that one has and is belongs to the Lord to be used without waste and without selfishness to help brethren. The Macedonians begged Paul to accept their money and to let them have a part in helping the poor saints at Jerusalem, and Paul held up their act before the Corinthians to move them to give for the same need, because example moves people much further than theory or commands.

Large wealth or high education is not essential to take part in this blessed service. True liberality begs with much entreaty for the privilege of giving and sharing in ministering to the saints. Their liberality is the grace of God bestowed on them through the work of the Holy Spirit on the heart, first receiving grace and then bestowing grace and receiving grace more abundantly as they impart, having first given their own selves to the Lord by the will of God. The church has not lost this benevolent spirit but is to be workers together with God, bringing firstfruits to God and meeting rich blessing. Giving liberally of the Lord's entrusted means meets the pressing emergencies that arise in aggressive warfare, helps God's people see things in a correct light, and teaches that as they impart they receive, for God gives to them that they may give to others.

Such liberality completes Christian character and symmetry of faith. It gives evidence of love and proof of the sincerity of faith, with a lively sense of obligation and accountability to God for the gospel and its working in them as the power of God. It reveals the power of the truth in counterworking selfishness and self-indulgence, bears the true fruit of God's vineyard to His honor, and gives the very best tangible evidence of the sincerity of faith and of love expressed in deeds. Every converted soul who appreciates the rich endowment of God's gifts will show great benevolence, returning to God His due by sustaining every good work and advancing His kingdom, and such liberality is required of all who have received God's great gift. The movement showed the special working of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of believers and encouraged Paul to have Titus visit the Corinthian church to finish the collection they had proposed and already begun, anxious that they perform what they had promised through the grace of God working on their hearts, lest the Corinthians be outstripped in liberality by the comparatively poor Macedonian churches. The character revealed by the Macedonians gave Paul great satisfaction and joy at their gratitude for the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they felt it their highest privilege to comply with the requirements of God by liberality to advance His glory, with diligent discharge of every duty as Christians under the control of God.

Present Call to Give

The record stands for study so that believers may learn that liberal spirit and receive the blessings that redound to liberality. Reading the eighth chapter in the churches gives the inspiration of liberality for pressing emergencies in aggressive warfare. It belongs to a chapter commended as an example able to inspire churches to give willingly for God's work and to help others.

Giving to the destitute is a sought privilege that poverty does not take away. Even those who are poor, with large families dependent on daily labor in hard and trying times, are not shut out but earnestly ask for the privilege of sharing in ministering to the saints, giving to their power and beyond their power willingly of themselves. Brethren scattered abroad are called to earnestly desire a share in it and to supply need where help is required. Children also are called to a willing part in serving others by self-denying offerings for God's work and missionary needs. Where help is needed in advancing the cause, even the poor receive a heart to give gladly as a privilege.

When God by His Spirit stirs hearts to see the necessities of the work, believers deny self and gifts flow into the treasury for the proclamation of the present message for this time. Self-denial and self-sacrifice in giving bring rich blessings flowing in upon God's people. Providing for a field by large outside donations instead of letting the local people deny themselves to supply the need deprives them of that blessing.

The earnest request to take part in ministering to the saints is instruction for parents and children to understand and practice by giving themselves to the Lord and supporting His work. Churches are thereby taught to give liberally and to consider the needs of sister churches rather than act selfishly, gladly sharing to help saints whose need is greater than their own.

Applied to particular enterprises, it calls for generous, united giving without complaint even amid many local calls to sustain the work in their own borders. At an important time nothing is to be left undone to close the Washington fund during the General Conference, through presenting the matter with clearness in the churches and from house to house and gathering families for prayer with hearts made tender by the Holy Spirit. It calls to supply the necessary means for a substantial, economical building for the Sydney Sanitarium to uplift people, as a memorial to uplift the suffering and train workers, where even the poor give gladly to advance the cause. For the neglected Southern Field it requires giving means to better the condition of that hard, destitute field, using the entire profits of the books for it, refusing to divert that means to fields that have much better advantages in every way, and making restitution by doing more than beginning where work should have begun years ago. Toward the work and institutions in Scandinavia believers should contribute so that the work can be freed from debt and continue. Funds needed for advance moves in unworked foreign fields when the field is ready should not be withheld from selfish motives, but given freely even out of deep need.

Generosity should be studied alongside self-denial and putting means to God's use rather than wasting it on selfish wants. All that one has and is belongs to the Lord to be used without waste and without selfishness to help brethren. Such liberal giving is blessed by the Lord, as in giving liberally to build a humble church where believers can assemble to worship God and let their light shine to others. It moves believers to support those who lack resources and to advance every needed good work and the kingdom.