The Tenth Sunday of Israel (NT)

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, ² for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³ For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, ⁴ begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— ⁵ and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ⁶ Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. ⁷ But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

⁸ I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. ⁹ 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 by his poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. ¹¹ So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. ¹² For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³ For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness ¹⁴ your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. ¹⁵ As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

I have often wondered about a fair tax, so that all people would pay the same amount or percentage. I have also wondered about why some should feel more of a burden than others. Why should those in need be forced to pay, while those with means escape payment? St Paul desires his people to pay what they can. He urges them to give out of Love.

I love free will offerings. What if everything was a free will offering, how much would you give? Would you put in the same amount for a complete bedroom set as you would for a candy bar? Would you given according to the effort that was provided, or cost of materials? There are many churches that have bake sales and bazars. I have often wondered if the people put in the price they paid for all the raw materials and then factored in minimum wage for their time how much they really made. Or do they do these out service for their neighbor?

God has given you all you have. He has given you life and salvation. He has provided you with the food on your table. What do you give him in return? What do you give your neighbor in turn? Here is the simple lesson. God still gives these things to you. God does not turn from you, but faithfully offers you more, or more importantly does not remove life and salvation from you. He gives you His very Son Jesus Christ as your eternal sacrifice.