2 Cor. 8:8-15

Often the world has a poor view of the visible church based on issues of money.  Some of the world’s views are well-founded as some ministries seem to be all about money and very little else.  People are offered bribes, or should we say inducements, such as a book or DVD to encourage their giving to the ministry.  It’s as if the ministry itself isn’t of sufficient quality to warrant support and people must gain something else in order to be involved.

Note that in this passage Paul stresses 2 reasons why the Corinthian church should be involved in this offering.  First was the matter of their integrity.  They had said they would be willing to give.  It even sounded like they had taken a lead in this project.  Now they were reneging on their declared intention.  Maybe the economy had gotten a bit tight.  Perhaps they had only given their word out of a fleshly desire for honor or attention.  Paul knew the importance of keeping one’s word.  Even as they had questioned Paul’s intentions (wrongly) so now he encouraged them to follow through on their own intentions.  Note that he makes it clear: it is not the amount that they give but the keeping of their word.

Secondly Paul is concerned about the love issue.  As we noted earlier, the command to love one another was given by Christ and was the best evidence of one’s faith in Christ (John 13:34-35).  Therefore Paul does not command them as to what they should do (v8).  But he does question the sincerity of their love.  Paul explained his reasoning in Romans 15:26-28.  The Macedonian (Philippi, Thessalonica) and Achaean churches (Corinth) were indebted to the saints at Jerusalem.  The gospel first went out from Jerusalem in the face of much persecution.  But in the process it had come to Macedonia and Achaia.  So it was an obvious response of love for those believers to come to the aid of the church at Jerusalem in their time of material need.  In this way there was equality, as Paul says in 2 Cor. 8:13-15.  Each church willingly shared their abundance, whether spiritual or material.

In our world we make a big deal about telling others we love them.  There is certainly some value in that.  But it is an insincere, empty love that says “I love you” but which does not act lovingly (James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17-18).  Is your love sincere?  There isn’t a much better situation in life to evaluate our love than in our giving!  Let us recognize how critical this is for believers.  Paul is asking for nothing more or less then Christ-likeness.  God’s love for the world and Christ’s love for the sinner prompted our Lord to leave the glories of heaven and come to earth to give Himself for us.  In this way He became poor that we might become rich.  Scripture certainly tells us that God loves us, though the words “I love you” are rare.  What the Bible does do is tell us of God’s love by telling us what He has done.  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16). That is sincere love!