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•1弟兄们，我们要把 神赐给马其顿众教会的恩惠告诉你们：2他们在患难中受大考验的时候，仍然满有喜乐，在极度贫穷中还格外显出他们乐捐的慷慨。3我可以证明，他们是按着能力，而且超过了能力来捐助，主动4再三恳求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的善事上有份；5并且他们所做的，不但照我们所期望的，更照 神的旨意先把自己献给主，又给了我们。
保罗用这一整章的篇幅教导哥林多人什么是基督徒的奉献，并特别向他们阐明为什么要奉献。我们也需要这样的教导，因为我们的本性中并没有慷慨的灵。要像获得这种慷慨的灵，我们需要坐在十字架下，更需要圣灵藉着上帝的话语在我们心里动工。
首先，保罗以马其顿的教会为例子。那里的会众很穷，可能是因为他们遭遇了严重的逼迫。腓利比是一个罗马帝国的前哨站，有很多罗马军队驻扎在那里。罗马人惩罚基督徒的方式之一是没收他们的财产。如果发生在你身上，你能想象每个月底会怎样影响到你的收支平衡？但是当他们听说能有机会帮助耶路撒冷的基督徒时，他们“仍然满有喜乐，在极度贫穷中还格外显出他们乐捐的慷慨”。他们的奉献超过了他们的能力。他们恳求保罗，准许他们在这供给圣徒的善事上有分。他们被大大的激励。
真正的慷慨是从动机开始的。保罗用来描述“慷慨”的这个词很有意思。一位圣经评论家翻译为“一心一意。”当耶稣是你最大的宝藏时，你的心就会放下那些吝啬的想法，其结果就是慷慨伴随着心里的喜乐。
我还记得有一天，一个寡妇把我叫到她家。她很穷。她的家用电器都很旧，感觉就像坐在四五十年代的厨房里。当时教会的处境有些艰难。她递给我一个信封，里面装着50张100美元的钞票。“这些钱本是用来以备不时之需的，”她说道，“但我想教会比我更需要它们。”她递给我信封的时候眼睛都没眨一下，甚至情不自禁地笑出声来。这就是喜乐的慷慨。
祷告：主耶稣，除你以外在天上我有谁呢？除你以外，在地上我也没有所爱慕的。你是我生命中的喜乐，我挚爱的珍宝。无论身处贫穷或富有，请让我的心充满喜乐的慷慨，来荣耀你！阿们。
2 Corinthians 8: And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. (NIV)
Paul takes to whole chapters to instruct the Corinthians about Christian giving, especially showing them WHY they want to give. We need this instruction, because we do not possess by nature a generous spirit. This is something that is gained at the foot of the cross and is grown by the work of the Holy Spirit through his Word.
To begin with, he holds out the Macedonians (the Philippians) as an example. They were a poor congregation, probably because they were persecuted heavily. Philippi was a Roman outpost and heavily garrisoned. One of the ways Rome punished Christians was to confiscate their property. Can you imagine what that would do to your balance at the end of the month? But when they heard about his opportunity to help the Christians in Jerusalem, “their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” They gave beyond their ability. They pleaded with Paul for the privilege of taking part in this offering. Talk about being highly motivated!
Real generosity begins with motivation. The word Paul uses for generosity is interesting. One commentator translates it as “a single-mindedness of heart.” When Jesus is your greatest treasure, your heart let’s go of those stingy thoughts and the result is a rich generosity that accompanies the joy in your heart.
I remember fondly a day when a widow called me to her home. She was very poor. Her appliances were ancient, and it was like sitting in a kitchen from the 40’s or 50’s. The congregation was struggling some at the time. She gave me an envelope with 50 one hundred dollar bills inside. “This is my rainy day money,” she said, “but I think the church needs it more than I do.” She didn’t wince when she handed me that envelope. She giggled. That’s joyful generosity!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, what do I have in heaven, but you? Earth has nothing I desire besides you. You are the joy of my life, my dearest treasure. Let my heart be filled with joyful generosity that honors you whether in wealth or in poverty! Amen.