Question
THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
HQ Bible Study Team: Mark Vucekovich, Mark Yang, Ron Ward, Teddy Hembekides, Joshua Hong, and David Kim.
(The Meaning of Offering I)
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Key Verse: 8:9
"As part of the ministry of reconciliation, Paul had been collecting an offering from all the Gentile churches to take with him to give to the church in Jerusalem. His purpose in collecting the offering was for the relief of the Jerusalem church, and, to build spiritual unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians (Ro15:26-27)."
* THE GRACE GIVEN TO THE MACEDONIAN CHURCHES (1-5)
1. Read verses 1-2. What good example did Paul mention? (Here, “the Macedonian churches” means the Philippians and the Thessalonicans.) What was their situation? How could they make such a generous and joyful offering? Why did he call their offering “the grace God has given”?
2. Read verses 3-5. How did they give in terms of their ability? (3) Their initiative and motivation? (4) What and to whom did they offer first? (5) Why is this important? What can we learn from the Macedonians about the unique characteristics of Christian giving?
* YOU KNOW THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (6-9)
3. What did Paul urge Titus to do? (6) How did he encourage and challenge the Corinthians? (7) As they excelled in other ways, why did they also need to excel in giving? How might this apply to you? What did Paul intend by his encouragement? (8)
4. Read verse 9 and memorize it. On what basis did Paul urge them to give? In what respect was Jesus rich? (Jn1:1-3) How did he become poor? (Jn1:14a; Lk2:7; Php2:6-8) Why did he do this? (9b)
5. What does it mean that we are now rich? (Eph1:3,7-8) How does this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ affect our Christian life, and especially our giving?
* THE BIBLICAL MEANING OF OFFERING (10-15)
6. What was Paul’s advice to the Corinthians? (10-11) After making an offering pledge, why is it important to follow through with it? What kind of attitude makes the offering acceptable to God? (12)
7. How might Paul have been misunderstood in asking for this offering, and what was his real intention? (13-14) What is the Biblical foundation for this? (15)
Manuscript
Message
THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(The Meaning of Offering I)
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Key Verse 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
Today’s passage teaches us the meaning of offering, especially relief offering. There had been a severe famine in the land, and believers in Jerusalem were suffering. Paul was collecting an offering from all Gentile churches to give to the Jerusalem Church. His purpose was to build spiritual unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians (Ro 15:26-27). It was part of the ministry of reconciliation. The Corinthians had begun to gather an offering. However, they did not follow through on giving it. So Paul, after reconciling with them, encouraged them to finish the task. In doing so, Paul explained the meaning of offering in relation to the grace of Jesus. Today let’s learn how to offer meaningfully in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
First, the grace God had given to the Macedonian churches (1-5).
Look at verse 1. “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.” Paul began, not by talking directly about the offering, but by sharing an example. Why? It is because a good example may best move others’ hearts and stir their spiritual desire to do good work. It is interesting to observe crabs. They do not move forward, but always from side to side. One day a mother crab told her baby crab, “Don’t walk from side to side, walk forward in a straight line.” The baby crab responded, “Show me the example.” The mother crab became speechless. It is not easy to set a good example. Yet the Macedonian churches, including the Philippians, Thessalonians, and Bereans had done so.
What was the grace that God had given the Macedonian churches? Look at verse 2. “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” Usually when people confront severe trials and extreme poverty, their hearts become dark and they complain out of anxiety, thinking only about their own situation. They turn indifferent, thinking this is normal. They even cultivate a “beggar’s mentality.” When they see only themselves and their situation, they lose their faith. But the Macedonian believers were different. They had overflowing joy in the most severe trial. In extreme poverty, they made a generous offering. They gave no impression of being beggars, or even poor. Rather, they seemed to be rich, while experiencing extreme poverty.
How was this possible? It was because they experienced the grace of God. That is why Paul talked about the grace God had given them. Here “grace” is to receive something that we don’t deserve. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us and forgave all our sins and made us precious children of God (Ro 5:8). That is the real meaning of grace. When the Macedonian churches received the grace of forgiveness they experienced the love of God who did not spare his one and only Son, but gave him up as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Then they could participate in the offering generously out of overflowing joy. It was not from their human effort, but the working of the grace of God in them, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. That is why Paul called their offering grace.
We find another example of such giving. Exodus 35-36 beautifully protray the Israelites bringing a generous offering to build the tabernacle. All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold and jewelry of all kinds—rings and earrings—and blue and purple yarn and fine linen and even goat hair and ram skins dyed red and the hides of sea cows. Finally Moses had to pronounce that what they already had was more than enough to do all the work, and to stop bringing the offering (36:5-7). How was it possible? It was because they experienced God’s forgiving love. When they were suffering under the power of Pharaoh, God had mercy on them and brought them out of Egypt to the promised land. God made a covenant with them to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex 19). For this, they needed discipline. So God gave them the Ten Commandments through Moses. However, while Moses was on the mountain for forty days receiving the Ten Commandments, they became impatient. They forgot God’s grace. They made a golden calf and worshiped it, and indulged in pagan revelry. God’s anger burned against them. At that moment, Moses prayed earnestly for them, asking God to forgive them—or if not, to remove his name from the book of life. God heard Moses’ prayer and forgave their sins. Afterward, God asked them to build a tabernacle. They offered materials generously out of joy and gratitude because they had experienced God’s forgiving love. God’s forgiving love moves us to offer generously, even in extreme poverty or severe trial. Christian offering is different than human philanthropy. It is offered to God out of gratitude for his grace, not merely to men.
Verses 3-5 reveal the attitude of the Macedonian believers. We can find three distinctive characteristics. In the first place, they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. They did not calculate in their mind the minimum possible requirement and offer grudgingly. They gave as much as they were able and even more. No one forced them. It was done out of a willing decision. That is why they did so with overflowing joy.
In the second place, they urgently pleaded for the privilege of sharing in the service of the saints. Usually those who raise funds for a cause will plead for donations. But the Macedonians pleaded to participate in giving, considering it a privilege. Here we see that offering is not only giving to God, but it also has the meaning of sharing fellowship with others. It is a great privilege to share the grace of God with others. As we prepared the Purdue Conference, many North American UBF chapters were willing to support the travel expenses of international delegates. Some students held car washes or bake sales to raise money. They considered it a privilege to share in this service to the saints. That is one reason God blessed the Purdue Conference. Offering is to share God’s love with others, as well as service to God.
In the third place, they gave themselves first to the Lord. In the matter of offering, what God wants is not money, but ourselves. When Cain and Abel brought their offerings, God first looked at the person and then at their offering. God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. It was because Cain’s heart was not right with God. God wants us to have a personal relationship with him through offering. That is why God wants us to offer ourselves first to him. Once David Livingstone was moved by the word of God. He wanted to offer something to God, but he did not have money. When the offering basket came to him, he stood up and said, “Lord, I do not have anything to offer except my own body. Please take me as an offering.” Later he gave his life as a missionary to Africa. God wants us to offer ourselves first to God. Here we must realize that offering is not just about money. It is giving ourselves: our hearts, our labor, our time to God. Dr. Joseph Schafer offered his sabbatical year to God by going to Australia and serving the mission there. Christian Norcross is offering her one month vacation from work by going as a short-term missionary to Mongolia. It is good, especially for young college graduates, to offer themselves first to God by spending a year on the mission field serving God freely. Surely God will bless those who do so.
Second, you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (6-9).
Look at verse 6. “So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.” Paul was inspired by the example of the Macedonian churches so he reminded the Corinthians of their earlier pledge. It is not unusual for people to make pledges to give to God when their hearts are moved. However, making a pledge is one thing and giving the money is another thing. John Wesley often said, “I cannot believe your repentance until your wallet repents.” Look at verse 7. “But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” The Corinthian believers excelled in many areas. Now Paul asked them to excel in the grace of giving as well. There was a possibility that Corinthian believers might have been influenced by Greek philosophy. In Greek philosophy they regarded spiritual things as good and precious, but material things were evil and worthless. So they didn’t regard offerings as part of spiritual activity. They might have boasted about their faith. But they did not value material giving. However, Paul put the same value on material giving that he put on other spiritual activities. We need balance in our spiritual life. We have to make effort to offer materials to God as much as we struggle to excel in faith and knowledge. Material life cannot be separated from the life of faith. It is part of our life of faith. So Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21).
In verse 8 Paul said he was not commanding them, but wanted to test the sincerity of their love through offering. So here we can see that our love or sincerity can be tested through our offering. After sharing with them the grace that God had given the Macedonian churches, Paul reminded them of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s read verse 9. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” Jesus Christ is the source of grace (Ro 1:5). Our Lord Jesus Christ is also the model of grace. We have to learn the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to excel in all areas of Christian life, including offering. We learn three things about the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the first place, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ comes from giving up his right and privilege as the Creator God. John 1:3 says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” This verse tells us that Jesus is the Creator God. He is the Owner of all things. In heaven, he enjoyed honor and glory and praise from all creatures. However, he came down to this world as a human being, taking the very nature of a man. He was born in a manger, an animal’s feed box (Lk 2:7). He grew up in a poor family in an oppressed nation (Isa 53:2). During his life he had no place to lay his head, even though birds of the air have nests (Lk 9:58). He gave up all his rights and privileges as God and made himself nothing for our sake (Php 2:6-8). People never want to give up their rights and privileges. They want to enjoy them to the maximum degree forever. Grace does not come from such people. Grace comes through giving up rights and privileges. When Albert Schweitzer went to the Congo as a missionary, he renounced freedom of economy, freedom of study, and freedom of music. From this renunciation, grace welled up for African people. When Mother Barry went to Korea as a missionary, she renounced her princess lifestyle in Mississippi and even her dream of marriage. At that time the situation in Korea was very poor. But Mother Barry did not live in the American missionary compound. She moved into a Korean house and lived as an ordinary Korean. Through her life of poverty, Korean young people became rich. In UBF there are many such missionaries, including Dr. Samuel Yoo of Uganda.
In the second place, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ comes from his humility and service. In the world there is no grace because people do not want to serve others, but to be served by others. But in Jesus Christ there is grace. Although he was the Son of God, he came into the world not to be served, but to serve (Mk 10:45). He served all kinds of people. He served selfish people such as Matthew. He served proud people such as Nicodemus. He served wayward people like the Samaritan woman. He served powerless people like the paralytic. He served angry and rebellious people like the demon-possessed man. He served ambitious people like his disciples. He served them with the love of God, prayer, and the word of God until they were changed into new persons.
In the third place, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ comes from his total sacrifice on the cross for our sins. His sacrifice was a ransom sacrifice for our sins. There is no grace where people only talk about grace. But there is true grace where there is sacrifice.
Then what blessings do we receive through the grace of Jesus? In the past our life was miserable because of our sins. Even if we had great wealth, we were miserable in our inner life. We had no peace or joy, but only strife, anxiety, sorrow, fear of death, and guilt. Many were miserable because they had no meaning of existence and no clear direction. This drives some rich young people to attempt suicide. However, through Jesus we can receive the grace of forgiveness. All our sins are forgiven. We can have joy and peace. Jesus also gives us a clear mission. Mission gives our lives absolute meaning and purpose. We become fruitful. We live under God’s protection and enjoy his provision. In addition to all this, we inherit the kingdom of God as heirs of God. All these blessings come from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus for your marvelous grace! When we know this grace we become rich and generous and willing to share and willing to serve and willing to offer. We do so, not out of obligation, but willingly from our hearts. This gives the Christian offering its unique quality that sets it apart from mere human philanthropy.
Third, the Biblical meaning of offering (10-15).
Until now Paul had explained the meaning sufficiently to inspire the Corinthians to offer with a right heart and attitude. Now he advises them to finish the work according to their earlier pledge (10). Paul encouraged them to offer willingly (11-12). God accepts the willing offering according to what one has, regardless of the amount of money. No offering is too small in the sight of God if it is given willingly and sacrificially. For example, a poor widow offered two very small copper coins worth only a fraction of a penny. But Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others” (Mk 12:41-43).
Paul further explained the meaning of the offering so that they may not be misunderstood. Look at verse 13. “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.” What does “equality” mean? Look at verses 14-15. “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: ‘He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.’” When we are in plenty, we should not live luxuriously. We should share our wealth with others who need it. Later, when we are in need, those who have plenty will share with us. In that way we can be equal. This equality is not forced, as it was in the Communist system. It is established voluntarily out of love. Basically it comes from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here we learn how to use our wealth in a right way. We should not put our hope in wealth and we should not be arrogant because of what we have. We should be generous and willing to share with others who are in need. In this way we can lay up treasure for ourselves as a firm foundation for our life (1 Ti 6:17-19).
Let’s read verse 9 one more time: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is marvelous. We know this grace and have experienced and tasted this grace. But from time to time we easily forget this grace. Then we become stingy in offering to God and miserable. When we remember the grace of Jesus, we can offer ourselves to God, and share with others joyfully and willingly. Let’s remember the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.