One of the more difficult subjects for a Biblical teacher involves financial giving, a theme that serves as the focus of attention in 2 Corinthians chapters eight and nine. One commentator remarks on the challenges associated with this subject for teachers and students of God’s Word…
“I love teaching through the Bible because it forces me to deal with issues I might otherwise conveniently choose to avoid. Chapters 8 and 9 of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians are one such example, for they deal exclusively with the subject of giving. I’m not alone in my tendency to cringe when the subject of giving comes up, for evidently the Corinthian congregation felt the same way. And Paul knew that, although they were excited about spiritual gifts, they needed to be exhorted about the spirit of giving.
You see, on his third missionary journey, as Paul traveled between the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, he took an offering—not for himself, but for the church at Jerusalem, which was going through hard times financially due to a severe famine in the region. Seeing this as an opportunity for a bonding between the Gentile Christians in Greece and the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, Paul was eager to complete the gift.
Yet, although the Corinthian congregation had initially welcomed the opportunity to help their brothers in Jerusalem, after a year had passed, they hadn’t raised any money in the endeavor. So it is this issue Paul addresses in chapters 8 and 9.” (1)
2 Corinthians chapter eight offers several important insights that should guide our approach in this area. These include…
- The voluntary and sacrificial nature of financial giving (verse three).
- The importance of seeking God’s direction in this area (verse five).
- Applying Jesus’ example in the area of financial support (verse nine).
- The need to follow through on our financial commitments (verses ten to eleven).
- The importance of prayerful discretion in the area of financial giving (verses twelve to thirteen).
- The relationship between those who give and those who receive (verses thirteen to fifteen).
- The need for integrity in administering financial gifts (verses sixteen to twenty-three).
- The importance of leading by example in the area of financial support (verse twenty-four).
Finally, one source makes an insightful comment on this portion of Scripture: “The spiritual nature of this offering is evident in the terms Paul uses. He never calls it ‘money’ because he never seems to think of it as such. Instead, he calls it ‘grace’ or ‘generosity’ or ‘blessing’ or ‘partnership.’ Thus, Paul speaks of the ‘grace of giving’ as one of the highest Christian virtues.” (2)
(1) Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 1130). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
(2) Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2354). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.