2 Co 8:1-7

We want you to know, brothers,
about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,

for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

For they gave according to their means, as I can testify,
and beyond their means, of their own accord,

begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—

and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started,
so he should complete among you this act of grace.

But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

Some backdrop.
Paul was gathering a collection of support for the saints in Jerusalem - believers in Jerusalem.
They were being persecuted.
A Jew who became a Believer would often lose their job…their business…their family…their culture.

Therefore, Believers outside of Jerusalem were helping.

Note what Paul says in the first two verses.
God’s grace was being given to the “churches of Macedonia” - Gentile land.

What was their “condition”?
They were being afflicted - severely.
They had an abundance of joy in the midst of the affliction.
They were poor - extreme poverty.
Yet, in their extreme poverty, they were overflowing “in a wealth of generosity”.
Their generosity poured forth.
They gave according to their means.
They gave beyond their means.
They gave of their own accord - not by coercion nor manipulation.
They begged to be able to help the saints.

This is how we are to give…
- by the grace of God
- in abundance of joy
- overflowing in generosity
- according to our means
- beyond our means
- of our own accord
- in support of fellow believers/saints

…to be continued…

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