APRIL 17, 2022
AN EXHORTATION TO LIBERALITY
INTRODUCTION:
1. In this and the following chapter the Apostle will be encouraging the church at Corinth to abound in the grace of giving, particularly in their liberality to the poor.
2. In this, Paul would be building upon what he had already begun. He had urged the Corinthians to make collections for the poor Saints at Jerusalem. (I Cor. 16:1) Titus visited Corinth after that letter was written, and made a good start in this work. He now encourages Titus to return to Corinth and complete what he had begun. (Verse 6)
3. He now begs the Corinthians to add this to all their other graces.
I. HE BEGINS BY SETTING BEFORE THEM THE EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT LIBERALITY OF THE CHURCHES OF MACEDONIA. (VERSES 1-6) The amazing generosity of the Philippians, Thessalonians, Bereans, and other churches of Macedonia served as a way to challenge the Corinthians and the Christians in Achaia to greater liberality.
A. THESE CHURCHES ABOUNDED IN THE GRACE OF GIVING, IN SPITE OF ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES. (VERSES 1-3)
1. Notice, the Apostle acquaints them with their great liberality, which he calls “the graces of God bestowed on the churches.” (Verse 1)
a) Christian liberality is due to the operation of the graces of God. The spirit of giving is God’s grace in the giver. The gift given is God’s grace to the recipient.
b) The freest acts of men, when good, are due to the influence of the Spirit of grace with them.
2. In spite of great trials and afflictions, these Christians had abundance of joy in the Lord. (Verse 2a)
a) The church at Thessalonica, for example, received the Word in much affliction, yet their joy was abundant, what Paul calls “the joy of the Holy Ghost.” (I Thess. 1:6)
b) The church at Berea was, in some respects even more noble than the church at Thessalonica.
(Acts 17:11)
c) As for the church at Philippi, the Philippian epistle speaks for itself. (Phil. 1:1-11)
3. In spite of their extreme poverty, these churches gave very largely with the riches of liberality. (Verse 2b)
a) Though in deep poverty, they gave richly, i.e. as if they had been rich.
b) Their example ought to have moved the Corinthians, who by comparison, were rich, to be more generous out of their abundance.
4. So large were their contributions that the apostle says it was not only according to their power but beyond their power. (Verse 3)
B. THESE CHURCHES GAVE LIBERALLY NOT BY CONSTRAINT, BUT WILLINGLY, AND EVEN INSISTENTLY. (VERSES 3b-5)
1. They needed not that Paul should urge them in this matter, but “they were willing of themselves.” (Vs. 3b) So great was their sense of gratitude to God for His unspeakable gift to them that they were compelled to give practical expressions to it.
2. Quite the opposite of needing to be pressed to give, they prayed him with much entreaty to receive the gift. (Verse 4)
3. Beyond the expectation of the apostle, he says “they first gave their own selves to the Lord and to us.”
(Verse 5)
a) “They FIRST gave their own selves to the Lord.” First does not mean first in time, but first in importance and order. (See Acts 15:28; Exod. 14:31)
b) This is the Key to their joy and liberality. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver, because cheerful giving flows from submissive love to Him.
c) To summarize, they gave beyond their power, of their own accord, begging to be allowed to take part in the contribution for the Saints, because they had given themselves to the Lord without reservation.
C. THE CONDUCT OF THE MACEDONIANS LED PAUL TO EXHORT TITUS TO COMPLETE THE WORK WHICH HE HAD BEGUN IN CORINTH. (VERSE 6)
1. Paul had called upon the Corinthians to make collections for the poor Saints. (I Cor. 16:1)
2. Titus visited Corinth after the letter was written, and began the work.
3. Now, moved by the example of the Macedonians, he would have Titus to return and complete the work. He is speaking to a future visit to Corinth by Titus. Rather than, “I desired…” it might be plainer to translate, “I have desired…”
II. HE EXHORTS THE CORINTHIANS TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THEIR MACEDONIAN BRETHREN. (VERSES 7-15)
A. THE ADDITION OF THIS GRACE WOULD BE IN HARMONY WITH OTHER GRACES IN WHICH THE CORINTHIANS ABOUNDED. (VERSES 7, 8)
1. In encouraging them in liberality, the Apostle rightly acknowledges the good things that are in them. This is the proper use of the act of persuasion.
2. The same testimony was borne in favor of the Corinthians in the first epistle. (I Cor. 1:5, 7)
3. Observe here, what it was that the Corinthians abounded in.
a) Faith. The root of all is first mentioned. (Heb. 11:6)
b) Utterance and knowledge are combined here as they are I Cor. 1:5. In both cases logos is rendered utterance. In both cases it may mean doctrine, or Word of truth, or Word of Christ. They were enriched with the gifts of sound doctrine and knowledge. They had Logos, Christian truth, which they apprehended and understood. What a rich gift!!
c) Diligence. A general term for the energy or vigor of spiritual life.
d) Love to us. This expression in Greek is peculiar. “The love which is of you in us,” i.e. your love to us which we cherish in our hearts.
4. What could better complete their character than to abound in the grace of liberality also? “See that ye abound in this grace also.”
5. It was not obedience to his command that Paul desired of them, but rather a spontaneous liberality.
(Verse 8)
a) Charity that comes only from a sense of duty is not properly motivated, “for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (Ch. 9:7)
b) What is not spontaneous is not liberal. Paul would not therefore coerce them by command. His object was to appeal to the genuineness of their love.
c) The real test of genuine love is the course of action to which it leads.
B. THE BEST ARGUMENTS FOR CHRISTIAN DUTY ARE THOSE DRAWN FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST. (VERSE 9)
1. The example of the Macedonians was such as should be imitated, but it is the example of the Lord Jesus Christ that constrains us.
2. The churches of Macedonia were a wonderful example, in that, they gave their own selves, and they gave freely of what they had. Yet, their giving cannot be compared to that of our Lord in any respect. He gave Himself as no other living being ever could have. His gift is infinite because he is infinite. His sacrifice is of inestimable value. Paul’s words in Verse 9 really need no further explanation. They say at all.
C. ANOTHER MEANS OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS TAKEN FROM THEIR OWN GOOD PURPOSE WHICH THEY HAD BEGUN ALREADY. (VERSES 10-12)
1. Good resolutions and purposes are good things, but they are lost and mean nothing without performance. How many well–intentioned Christians there are who have made resolutions respecting this very thing, but have not followed through? How many have begun well, only to become hindered in some way?
2. The Corinthians had manifested a readiness to will, and had proceeded to go forward. Now the Apostle offers his advice, that they follow on to the full performance of what they had begun a year ago.
3. A willing mind is accepted of God when accompanied with sincere endeavors to perform the resolution.
(Verse 12)
D. PAUL ARGUES HIS POINT ON THE BASIS OF THEIR ABILITY. (VERSES 13-15)
1. Concerning the ability to give, divine providence had been much more favorable to the Corinthians than to the Macedonians. Yet, in their liberality, they had come behind their brethren in Macedonia.
a) Providence gives to some more good things of this world, and to some less. The design is that those with more may help supply those who are in want.
b) In the church it is too often the case that those who have greater abundance give less than those who have far less.
2. It is the will of God that there should be some sort of equality. That is, there should be an equitable proportion observed. The burden should not lie to heavy on some, while others are wholly eased.
(Verses 13, 14)
3. This is illustrated by the gathering and distributing of Manna in the wilderness. (Exod. 16:16-18)
Speak Your Mind