Giving (2 Cor 8:1-15)
The Macedonians were not well off. The Corinthians were affluent. The Macedonians were free to be generous, even though poor, because “they gave themselves first to the Lord” (5). According to Paul, they experienced great joy, so much so that they were “begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints” (4). The Corinthians were in a much better position to contribute to the relief offering, but they struggled with stinginess. Paul didn’t confront their unwillingness with authority, command, and control (8), but with pastoral concern, teaching, and encouragement. Paul’s theology of giving is grounded in Christ’s self-giving, who “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you bu his poverty might become rich” (9). His pastoral approach helped the Corinthians remember their past desire and willingness to cooperate (10), prompted their repentance and follow through (11), included motivational speech: “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” (7), and reminded the Corinthians that they were part of the larger fellowship of humanity, any of whom may find themselves at any time either in need or with ability to supply the need of others (14-15). Paul brought to bear the witness of Scripture by citing Ex 16:18, the exemplary example of Christ, the reminder of the Corinthian’s past, the good example of the Macedonian brothers, the doctrinal truth that joy comes from giving rather than collecting, and the courage of a pastor cashing in some chips and speaking truth in love to confront a culture of stinginess that was taking root in the hearts of the Corinthians. What is the key to freedom in giving? Why was giving easy for the Macedonians and hard for the Corinthians? It is true that generosity results in joy but you will never become generous by seeking joy. The key is in verse 5: “they gave themselves first to the Lord.” See 2 Cor 8:1-15.
Okay, if you take the approach that you will only truly achieve joy by relentlessly pursuing it in God, isn’t it quite possible that you will become generous by seeking joy, i.e. by seeking it consistently at its Source, which draws you into a relationship predicated upon this continual movement of self-giving for the sake of the world and even one’s neighbor?
2 Cor 8:1-15 does not appear to make or support the argument that if pursuing God leads to joy then seeking joy leads to generosity. It does seem to make the argument that while generosity will lead to joy, the reverse is not necessarily so. Seeking God does lead to joy, although seeking joy may not lead to God. Seeking joy in God may lead to generosity, but we are going beyond what this text says when making this last claim. I think there’s much more to say about generosity and Paul is about to propose a pretty full blooded theology of giving in chapter 9. See my upcoming post on how giving blossoms into much more that we might expect.