By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
2 Corinthians 8:1-2,5 "And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity… And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us." - NIV
Paul describes a very moving giving story from the Macedonian churches. They heard about the urgent needs and suffering of the churches in Judea and wanted to be part of the support. They themselves were in very severe trial and extreme poverty but full of joy, which led to rich generosity. No one coerced them to give, but chose to do so by themselves out of their ability (v.3,4). The response was beyond expectation. It was by grace.
Paul gives the secret behind such rich generosity against extreme poverty; they first gave themselves to the Lord. There was every reason (and humanly genuine), for these extremely poor Christians not to participate in supporting the needy. But they defied it and gave beyond expectation. Our greatest giving is not things, but first, our lives. Even if we give everything else and still withhold our lives, it means little to God.
There is a level of God’s knowledge and touch in our lives that makes all treasures of life mean nothing. Paul got there and called all his previous great achievements rubbish in comparison to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus (Phil 3:8). His whole life was given over to God and the cause of the gospel. Death was not a hindrance any more. From such a fully surrendered life, nothing can be withheld from God and the gospel causes. I pray we all get there!
Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."
Shalom children of God.