Topic: The Macedonian Challenge!
Paul has a need to confront the church in Corinth regarding their lack of financial giving. Paul utilizes the churches in Macedonia which included Philippi and Thessalonica. The Macedonian countryside had been decimated by civil wars. Now that the Romans were in control, the government took over the gold and silver mines in Macedonia. They also taxed the copper and iron smelting industry. Life was difficult for the general population.
At the same time Israel was struggling through a famine. Paul was taking up an offering for the Jerusalem church. The Macedonian churches acted in a way that was totally contrary to their circumstances by wanting to give even though they were struggling as well.
In this passage, Paul was talking to the church in Corinth and telling them about the church in Macedonia and how they had learned to give. The church in Macedonia had discovered some basic principles for giving that the church in Corinth had not learned.
II Corinthians 8:1-6 outlines for us five financial principles that every believer should display.
1. Poverty does not hinder generosity (vs. 2). Giving isn’t based on how much you give. It’s based on what you have left after you give. Macedonia gave generously while in poverty themselves.
2. Faith looks to God’s ability, not our own (vs. 3). The church in Macedonia looked beyond their ability to what God actually wanted them to give—that is faith. They were generous beyond what even seemed possible.
3. The heart looks for the opportunity to generously give (vs. 4). The church in Macedonia urged Paul for the opportunity to give.
4. A pattern of giving had been established (vs. 5). The church in Macedonia had established a pattered in giving prior to this opportunity. They had given to support their own ministry as well as Paul’s. Now they were adding a gift to the church in Jerusalem.
5. Giving has no limits; therefore, excel more (vs. 7). God’s growth chart uses Him as the standard; therefore, we have growing to do in the area of financially giving to God.
Just a thought: take the Macedonia challenge and enjoy financially giving to God. I promise you will want to give more!
See you Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem