Description

What Does the Grace of Giving Do?

David W Palmer

(2 Corinthians 8:1 NKJV) Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.

This is the first verse of 1 Corinthians 8. As we read on into the whole of chapters 8 and 9, we see that the Holy Spirit’s objective through Paul seems to be to encourage his readers to sow. But he certainly does not do this by the force of his authority, tugging on their heartstrings to have pity, by manipulation, or imposing a guilt-trip on them; he does it through the impartation of God’s grace for giving. 

In an interesting approach, the Holy Spirit begins by sharing how this grace revolutionized the churches of Macedonia. He did this both as an example to them of what this grace is, and as an explanation of what happens when you receive it. But he also did it as a means of challenge; he compared their enthusiasm and love with that of the Macedonians, who had already received this grace:

(2 Corinthians 8:8 TPT) I’m not saying this as though I were issuing an order but to stir you to greater love by mentioning the enthusiasm of the Macedonians as a challenge to you.

The apostle Paul says he wasn’t commanding them to give; it is not an order. But God desires it for them as he knows it will benefit the receiver, but even more, the giver:

(Acts 20:35 NKJV) “… remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

So what does God’s grace for giving actually do? Thankfully, Paul describes in detail what it did for the churches of Macedonia:

(2 Corinthians 8:1–5 TPT) Beloved ones, we must tell you about the grace God poured out upon the churches of Macedonia. {2} For even during a season of severe difficulty and tremendous suffering, they became even more filled with joy. From the depths of their extreme poverty, super-abundant joy overflowed into an act of extravagant generosity. {3} For I can verify that they spontaneously gave, not only according to their means but far beyond what they could afford. {4} They actually begged us for the privilege of sharing in this ministry of giving to God’s holy people who are living in poverty. {5} They exceeded our expectations by first dedicating themselves fully to the Lord and then to us, according to God’s pleasure. 

This passage gives a detailed description of what God’s amazing grace of giving does:

• Joy. It gave them supernatural joy—even during a season of severe difficulty and tremendous suffering.
• Generosity. This joy overflowed from the depths of their extreme poverty into an act of extravagant generosity (giving).
• Voluntarily. They gave spontaneously—not by being coerced or cajoled into it, through compulsion, guilt, or manipulation of any kind.
• Extraordinarily. They gave, not only what they could afford to give, but far beyond what they could afford.
• Self-motivated. Rather than being talked into it by the recipients or the preacher, they begged for the privilege of giving to God’s people in poverty.
• Surrendered. But they first dedicated themselves fully to the Lord. (Thus, he became their provider, protector, and rewarder—guaranteeing their future supply.)
• Faith. Their giving was an act of pure faith; it gave God pleasure, which is impossible without his kind of faith (Heb. 11:6).

So, this is what the grace of giving looks like when it is poured out on people; this is what it does. God wants you to receive this grace; not as a way to get your money, but as a way of bringing you into his will and desire for you without your self-effort; he wants you to sow bountifully so you can reap bountifully; he wants you to walk in all the positive benefits of the law of sowing and reaping, and he wants you to do it out of overflowing joy and gratitude:

(2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.