2 Corinthians 8 (3)

Pray Psalm 106.1-3.
Praise the LORD!
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD?
Who can declare all His praise?
Blessed are those who keep justice,
And he who does righteousness at all times!

Sing Psalm 106.1-3.
(Trust in Jesus: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus)
Praise the LORD! Give thanks and praise Him!
He is good, His love endures!
More His works than can be spoken;
let His praise be ever sure!
Refrain v. 48
Blessèd be our God and Savior, evermore His praise proclaim!
Let all those who know Your favor praise Your holy, glorious Name!

Read 2 Corinthians 8.1-12; meditate on verses 10-12.

Preparation
1. What did Paul want the Corinthians to do?

2. What would be necessary for this to happen?

Meditation
The Corinthians had decided to contribute to the relief of the saints in Judea, but, by the time of Paul’s writing 2 Corinthians, they had not yet fulfilled their commitment. It had been a year since they decided to contribute; now it was time to complete the task (vv. 10, 11).

It’s not a good idea to make commitments to the Lord and then not carry them out. Paul said it would be to the Corinthians’ advantage to finish what they had started by getting their gift ready (v. 10). It didn’t have to be an exorbitant gift, merely what they were able to give from what the Lord had provided for them (v. 12). He didn’t say what that “advantage” would be, but we can imagine the sense of satisfaction and even joy they would have experienced in finishing this project. More important, they would have reinforced their commitment as a community to serve the Lord together.

They needed “a willing mind” to move forward on this. Not that they should ask, “Are we still willing?” but that they should remember their commitment, pray, and take immediate steps to get their gift ready.

Here is a lesson for life: We must not merely start well in our walk with the Lord, with all kinds of good intentions and heady resolutions. The goal is to walk faithfully, work diligently, and make sure that we finish well in everything we do throughout the entire course of our lives. The advantage to our doing so will be in the “Well done” we hear from our Savior when we see Him face to face.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The following statement is not meant to offend anyone, but merely to point out that this passage flies in the face of churches’ and ministries’ use of spiritual extortion in “faith promise” giving. Sorry.

Paul clearly stated, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what one does not have” (2 Cor. 8.12). God also works on this same premise: we are to tithe back to Him what does not belong to us, out of what we have in our possession. “Will a man rob God?” (Mal. 3.8) Ten percent of what we have belongs to God. Not ten percent of what we think we might have if we play our cards right.

We recently participated in a neighborhood garage sale. We made $77. So, seven dollars and seventy cents belonged to God. Simple enough. We could have pledged a hundred dollars to God in anticipation of a boon return on our second-hand goods; but truly, as you see, that would have put us in a deficit position. God doesn’t want us to promise over-the-top giving. He just wants us to do what He has told us to do.

And to do what we have said we would do.

“Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!
For the LORD preserves the faithful…” (Ps. 31.23).
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much…” (Lk. 16.10).
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2.10).

King Saul, in disobedience to God, did something he perceived as a good idea. The prophet Samuel had to ask him, “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD?” Saul answered with a bit of, “Well I did this, and I did that, and look at what a great king I am.” To which Samuel answered:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…” (1 Sam. 15.19, 22).

Paul would never have urged the Corinthians to do something they were incapable of doing. He would not have allowed them to set themselves up for failure. He wanted them to succeed, to empty themselves of things they already had, so God could refill them with Himself. He wanted them to grow in their faith; and he wanted them to find satisfaction in their possible and completed work (2 Cor. 8.11).

God wants the same for us. He also never requires anything from us that we cannot do with His help. “We must not merely start well in our walk with the Lord…The goal is to walk faithfully, work diligently, and make sure that we finish well in everything we do throughout the entire course of our lives.”

It is solid obedience based on the truth of Jesus Christ, and according to the truth of what we can give today—physically, spiritually, financially—with great joy and rejoicing, doing what we have agreed to do. Nothing more, nothing less. “The advantage to our doing so will be in the “Well done” we hear from our Savior when we see Him face to face.”

For reflection
1. In what aspects of your walk with and work for the Lord do you need to have a more “willing mind”?

2. What will it mean for you to give “what you have” in serving the Lord today?

3. Whom will you encourage today to give their best in serving the Lord?

Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing without good deeds. Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unless there is perseverance. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8.10-12

Pray Psalm 106.44-48.
Give thanks and praise to God, Who always remembers His covenant and carries out His Word. Renew your commitment to Him for this day.

Sing Psalm 106.44-48.
(Trust in Jesus: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus)
Look upon us, LORD, with favor,
see us in our sore distress!
Hear our cries, with love surround us;
turn again to heal and bless!
Refrain v. 48
Blessèd be our God and Savior, evermore His praise proclaim!
Let all those who know Your favor praise Your holy, glorious Name!

Save us, LORD, from every nation;
gather us from all our ways.
And we to Your Name will offer
glorious thanks and endless praise!
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.