By Bryan D. Gill, D.Min.
Director of the Office of Faith, Learning and Vocation, Samford University
GENEROSITY
2 Corinthians 8:1–9
Why is it that when people start talking about generosity and giving away our hard-earned money, we start squirming in our seats and suddenly have somewhere else to be? What if we shifted our thinking about giving from something we have to do to something we have the privilege of doing?
Having the Christian character trait of generosity is exactly that. We have the freedom to see our resources, time and energy as ways that we get to serve the Lord. Being generous involves how we spend our money, time and possessions but also our giving love and grace to others.
In this passage for today, we will look at one of Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth and how he taught them about generosity.
Generosity does not depend on wealth. (1–2)
Paul used the Macedonia churches as an example for the Corinthians to follow regarding giving generously. Despite the hardships they were facing and their poverty, the Macedonian churches were generous and exceeded Paul’s expectations.
There is a similar story about giving found in Mark 12:41–44. Here we see the poor widow who gave two copper coins in the temple while the wealthy people “were putting in large sums.”
I imagine the large amounts making a lot of commotion and bringing attention to the givers. But after two copper coins were dropped into the treasury, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had — all she had to live on.”
In the same way, the Macedonians were generous even in their poverty. Being generous isn’t a matter of wealth; it’s a matter of the heart.
Generosity begins with giving ourselves to God. (3–6)
If generosity is going to be part of our character, we must start with our relationship to God. Giving your money doesn’t mean you are close to God.
“Slacktivism” is a new term that essentially means you can support a cause with very little effort such as reposting something on social media, signing an online petition or sending a little money to a fundraiser. Slacktivists are not fully invested. They are just doing the minimum to make themselves feel better.
But the generosity of the Macedonian churches grew out of their commitment to the Lord. When we are cultivating generosity in our lives, we should start by growing closer to the Lord. Generosity will be a natural response when we invest in our relationship to God.
Generosity is a response to Christ’s generous love for us. (7–9)
When we are devoted to the Lord, we understand His love for us. Jesus gave up everything to rescue us from sin. To follow Jesus means to surrender everything to Him, not just our money.
When Jesus transforms our hearts, we become generous with our money, time and other resources.
Perhaps generosity looks like giving someone your old vehicle, that furniture in the basement or a service you provide at your company. Or perhaps it means being generous with the love and grace we’ve been given.
The Corinthians were called to excel in grace even as Christ has been generous in His grace to us. Being gracious and loving is sometimes the most generous thing we can do, and it doesn’t cost us a dime.
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
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