Lord's Day Devotion - Finish It (2 Corinthians 8 ESV)

 

Here it is again; money talk.  This is literal money, not possessions referred to in this chapter.  It certainly puts one in mind of what Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians though.

He'd asked them to have "a collection for the saints" and to give of their "store" as the Lord had "prepared them" (1 Corinthians 16:1-3 KJV).

He continued to instruct,

"bring your liberality unto Jerusalem."  

It would be termed, "gift".

Lastly, he guided,

"Let all be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV).

Again, Paul encourages the Corinthians to give generously.  The church and the poor in Jerusalem still needed help.  They should follow through on what had already been collected.  Furthermore, Titus, now a well-known evangelist and man of integrity, would be entrusted to carry and deliver their monetary offering.

He stirred them up by, ooo, comparison!  Aren't comparisons, taboo?  Paul tells them the Macedonian believers even though poor, gave what they could, plus more they could barely afford.  You guys in Corinth are wealthy.  Give accordingly!

The key to this though was that they

 "gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us"                                 (1 Corinthians 8:5 ESV).

Since the Corinthians felt pretty good that they excelled in several areas, Paul, with tongue-in-cheek, says,

"see that you excel in this act of grace also" (2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV).

It wasn't exactly a command.  Instead, Paul cleverly goaded them,

 "to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine"                                (2 Corinthians 8:8 ESV).

At times we give, perhaps reluctantly, for the furtherance of our Lord and King Jesus' kingdom's matters.  Maybe saying, "They just want more!" or "Again!!?"  Of course we need to have good stewardship of what the Lord gives us but do we have a stingy, reluctant heart?

Paul gives good reasons for giving in this instance.  And his best and biggest 'high stake' reason is Jesus Himself.  Jesus came from Heaven to Earth; from richness in glory to poverty among the poor.  Yet He did this so we could become rich in God and in our spirits.

Our Jesus, our Savior, came to ransom our souls to give us life eternal.  He paid the debt from the sins we commited and for our sins due to The Fall (but this is another story for some other time).

Jesus gave His all.  He gave it for the Corinthians.  Could they not give theirs for Him and His people in need?

And Jesus didn't just begin His work on earth, He brought it to completion.  Paul noted to the Corinthians.

"[You], a whole year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it ..."        (2 Corinthains 8:10 ESV).

We make starts of things maybe out of guilt or an initial enthusiasm but there's a following through to do.  Paul continued to admonish,

"so now finish doing it, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have " ( 2 Corinthians 8:11 ESV).

Yes, sometimes we need time to work through things in our hearts and minds.  It's ironic what this saying by the American businessman Glenn Turner, convey's.  He may have been not above board in some areas but he seems to have gotten this right...

"The last parts of us to be converted are our pockets and purses."

The Israelites of the Old Testament were told to give of the best of their firstfruits of their grain, livestock and so on.  It was to be a first action, not a last (see Exodus 23:19).

God gave of His best.  He gave His One and Only son that we might be saved and have everlasting life (see John 3:16).

This Lord's day, remember God's freewill offering and 'burnt offering' - His giving of His all for us, coupled with Jesus' desire to complete what He had started, and then doing so.  Partake of the broken bread and the cup of wine, symbols of His death and paying for our pardon, do so with thanksgiving.

Do so, with generosity of our firstfruits, money, possessions, time, and energy.  What He asks, let's serve Him and give Him our all.  Let's desire to do it, complete it out of what we have, just like Jesus did (see John 19:30; 17:4; 4:34; and Hebrews 10:12).

                                                    ~  ERC  June 2026   ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 8 ESV.

Sing, Jesus Paid It All, along with Kim Walker-Smith.

See related article:  Pockets and Purses.