This Grace of Giving

Let me set the stage for this story of generosity:

Location: Macedonia. Paul had a vision of a man calling him to, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:6-10) Philippi was the leading port city there (16:12). Paul’s summary of his time in Macedonia: “For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.” (2 Corinthians 7:5)

Churches in Macedonia were established through Paul’s visits there, but it seems that life was not easy for those Macedonian Christians, because Paul describes their situation in 2 Corinthians 8:2: “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”

This does not make sense to me. Somehow doing the math of a very severe trial plus extreme poverty does not usually equal rich generosity! What made the difference? I think it was grace, but not just any old grace, it was God’s grace!

Jesus set the example for this “grace of giving” that the Macedonians exhibited: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (verse 9)

This kind of generosity is not human. It is spiritual and only possible through God’s grace, given through His Spirit, changing the math of what is possible in difficult situations. The Macedonians thought that it was a privilege for them to share with others in this way!

Generosity is the greatest mark of a life of faith, and Paul exhorted all Christians to excel in this grace of giving, along with faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness and love! Let God’s Spirit work in your life today, bringing that same “overflowing joy” that the Macedonians experienced, no matter what trial you may be going through right now.

Father God, I want to also excel in all of these things that bring you glory, but especially in the area of generosity, in the grace of giving that Jesus so clearly exhibited for us to emulate. Thanks for the gift of your grace and the Spirit’s work in our lives! Amen.

Throughout this day: If you had to grade yourself, would you say that you excel in the grace of giving? If not, what is blocking God’s Spirit from giving you overflowing joy today?