2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Overflowing with Generosity
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: May 5, 2020 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
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. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
(Understanding the Text) Now, Paul gets back to gathering money for the Christians in Palestine. He tells the Corinthians that the poor people in the other churches gave more than he expected. Even though he didn’t want them to give so much because of their impoverished state, they insisted. Now, Paul tells the Corinthians that he is sending Titus back to them to collect whatever money they are going to donate.
Paul praises the Corinthians for their faith, speech, knowledge, and earnestness. He says that they have his own love in abundance. Now, he urges them to be just as large in their generosity as they have been in other areas. He gives the example of Jesus, who was rich and submitted to the poverty of becoming a human. Paul makes it clear that he is not giving a command. He is just encouraging them to give a lot. On the other hand, Paul also makes it clear that he is not asking them to sacrifice themselves and their livelihood in order to give. He knows that many of the Corinthians have extra money, and he says to give out of the extra money rather than taking away the money that they need for survival. Then Paul gives the example of manna which was just enough, not more nor less than what was needed.
The Corinthians had started storing up money to give a year before. They had been enthusiastic about the project then. Paul encourages them to finish as strongly as they started. This is also something that we need to be cognizant of in the present day. A lot of projects begin with enthusiasm, but it is more important to finish well. This is also true in our Christian walk. It is how we finish that determines our standing, not how we begin.
(Revelation of God) Too often we forget how much Jesus willingly sacrificed for us. Paul points out the contrast between what Jesus had and what He experienced as our Savior. The richness of heaven was at His fingertips, yet He chose daily not to access that wealth. He lived in poverty here. That means He was hungry, He did not have nice clothes, and He would have been physically uncomfortable at many times. Jesus chose this for us because He loves us. In the same way, we are to sacrifice for others because we love Jesus.
(Application) Here is a principle of giving for everyone. We don’t have to feel guilty for not taking food out of our own mouths to give to the needy, but we also do not need to have extra money lying around for security or those little extras that we don’t need and have no place for. When we have extra, we should give it to others who need it, trusting God to take care of us in turn. We don’t rob Peter to pay Paul, but we also don’t lay up earthly treasures for security. Our only security is in Jesus.
(Understanding the Text) Paul has such a contrast here between his 1 Corinthians’ letter and what he says of them now. This is also in contrast to what he will say of them starting in chapter 10, which is more proof that these are two different letters that have become attached together. It is also proof that the chapter ten one was sent before chapters 1-9. Chapters 1-9 are the result. The whole tone is different. Here in chapter eight, Paul speaks of the Corinthians’ great characteristics: you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you. In chapter 10, he warns them that they had better shape up. What this tells me about Paul is that he truly did love the Corinthians with his whole heart. If he needed to speak in a mean way in order to save them, he would, but as soon as he had an indication that they were on the right track, he left all recriminations behind and only focused on their positive behaviors of the present. The past was forgiven and forgotten as long as the behavior stayed in the past. Christians need to practice this behavior with each other. The past is the past if it has been repented of. It is only to be brought up if there is backsliding or in a testimony. At other times, we are to treat each other with respect and love and praise.
(Prayer) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” I want people to say this of me. I know Your grace. I know You.