2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15 - by Don Neuendorf
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
Our district, the Michigan District of the LCMS, is currently in the middle of a fundraising campaign. Commemorating the 125th anniversary of the district, we're trying to raise $13 Million together. But one feature of those campaigns that I've always been uncomfortable with is the whole process of hyping the gifts.
You know what I mean. Every week or two a newsletter comes out telling us what this congregation or that congregation has done. These people raised this much. And this church gave that much.
I grew up with a natural reluctance to talk about my giving publicly. Although my parents were generous givers, who supported many charities in addition to the 10% to their church, I didn't learn about their giving until I was an adult. So naturally I'm reticent. And yet, the Apostle Paul was not...
"Look at the Christians in Macedonia!" he says. And he doesn't just point to their generosity, but he points out that their generous giving was a product of 3 things:
- Severe trial,
- Overflowing joy, and
- Extreme poverty
Now, if you had that list of things, what would you say they would be likely to produce? Certainly not generous giving! But the people who endure such hardship learn the true value of things - or rather, they learn that material things do not have the value we once placed on them. They are only valuable in their ability to serve an eternal purpose.
Should we use personal examples of giving in order to inspire others to give? I still don't know. But I am encouraged by the Macedonians. I'm encouraged by the persecuted believers in Sudan who gave to help persecuted believers in North Korea. I'm encouraged by the generous hearts of those who have blessed me.
I pray that you will be inspired by someone today to give up what has no value in order to share that which has no price.