Day 12 2 Corinthians 8:1-12 Macedonian model
The Macedonian’s faith-filled generosity challenges us all: “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” Who gives in severe trials and extreme poverty? Macedonians did. And who does it with overflowing joy? They did. And that’s the point. Faith-filled giving generates joy. They have not only according to their ability, but even “beyond their ability.” That’s where faith takes you. Far from coerced, their giving was entirely on their own. In fact, they pleaded for the privilege of sharing in this service.
What comes first in the model is crucial: “they first gave themselves to the Lord,” then they gave their resources, this act of grace. God is so amazing. God gives the grace (8:1) to them so that they can then give in the grace of God to bless others (8:6). Paul encourages them to excel in this “grace of giving.” How great if the people of Christ Fellowship were similar models today; people who excel in the grace of giving.
Of course the ultimate model for the Macedonians, for us and for all people, is Jesus who in grace, thou he was rich, yet our sakes became poor so that through his poverty we could be rich. He left the privileges of deity in heaven to become human and be executed on a cross so that we could share in his riches.
So now Paul exhorts the Corinthians on the basis of the example of Jesus and inspired by the mode of the Macedonians, to finish the work. So my prayer today is for the people of Christ Fellowship to complete their decisions to commit to the Movement to Multiply so that Sunday, April 17 will be an awesome morning when we will overflow with joy.
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