2 Corinthians 8:1-6 Study Guide: Excel in Generosity
Community Group Study Guide — Excel in Generosity
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
Study Information:
What are the biggest influences on your beliefs and actions around money? It could be that you took some classes in high school that taught finances or maybe you majored in accounting, it could even be that your parents showed you a good practice for spending, saving and giving. However, many people have just coasted through life without intentional formation around how to think about and use money. At the same time, people can be closed off to the church’s teaching around money because there is a myth out in the world that the church talks about money all the time and just wants your hard earned cash. Yet, think about it, how often does then world sell you stuff, or try to advertise risky ways to invest that promise an amazing return quickly, or even non-profits who may aggressively sell you a vision. Who talks about money more the world or the church; and who would you rather learn about money from, the world or from God?
2 Corinthians 8-9 gives us a radical picture of God’s provision as followers of Jesus are called to generosity. In this section of scripture we will learn about the Macedonian Offering, how God provide for all our our needs, and the call to give generously with a cheerful heart to God’s work in the world. Essentially we will ask and answer the question “if Christ is our ultimate treasure, what does that mean for our money?”
Before we begin, let’s recognize some inherent assumptions we have before we begin this series. First, many of us feel financially stretched living in the Bay Area and bring some guilt to this area of theology. Second, there is a myth of scarcity where we impose limits on our limitless God. Finally, we can often have an assumption of entitlement, that since we worked hard for this money that it belongs to us. Yet, all those things are really just myths. There is a way to live generously, with our limitless God and to find joy in giving.
The Macedonian Offering
2 Corinthians 8:1
In the background of the New Testament there was a financial giving campaign to support the suffering Christian church in Jerusalem often called the “Macedonian Offering.” You can read about this offering in passages like our text of 2 Corinthians 8-9, as well as Romans 15, Acts 21 and 1 Corinthians 16. This offering originated among the Macedonian churches, which included churches like Philippi, as well as other Gentile and Greek churches. Paul’s thought process was that since they benefited spiritually from the Jewish Christian church they were called to help them materially in their time of suffering. Paul spoke of this gift often and spent a significant amount of time collecting funds to bring to Jerusalem, which culminated in a trip that led to his arrest.
The Macedonian offering and texts like Acts 4 show us how God calls the Christian church to financially give to bless people and supply for their needs. Some of this happens through pastors and shepherds (1 Corinthians 9), at other times through maintaining and stewarding a place for worship like we learned with the Tabernacle in Exodus, and through benevolence and missions like with the Macedonian Offering. The supreme goal of our generosity is to glorify God and build up people through shepherding, material provision and having a place for discipleship and worship.
Giving in Affliction and Poverty
2 Corinthians 8:2-5
Many people experience or think that generosity is easier when they have more money and yet our text indicates that this is not normally the case. Our cultural assumption that money is scare leads us to believe a lie that makes us act as if God is somehow limited in what he can provide for us. Notice though how Paul described the Macedonian churches, like Philippi, he wrote that they were in “severe affliction” and “extreme poverty.” Paul indicated that the Corinthians were a wealthier congregation and yet they were less generous. Comparatively, the Macedonians were overflowing with joy and giving according to and beyond their means. They seemed to believe deep in their hearts that God was not limited and that he would provide for their needs.
What can happen in affluent areas of the world where many things cost a lot more, like housing and basic material goods, is also a corresponding expectation for a certain standard to match the cultural norm including a certain type of car, a larger house, longer or more frequent vacations, a nicer yard and things like that. None of that is inherently sinful. The Bible includes a vision to use money wisely and there may be things we do with those resources like entertaining people with hospitality, rejoicing in family or finding rest from a nice vacation. However, we should be challenged to not think that affluence will lead to generosity and be careful to not fall into a comparison trap where we keep up with the standard of living of our neighbors, or think that we “deserve” this or find our satisfaction in money over God. The Macedonians did not think about their giving at the end of the month, so to speak, they thought about it at the beginning of the month and adjusted their lives around their goals for generosity.
In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote about charitable giving saying, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the common standard among those with the same incomes as our own, we are probably giving away too little (p86).” Lewis was known for giving away around 70% of his income and was often found wearing shabby, worn clothing that he stretched the life of as long as he could. This is not a call for all Christians to live with holes in their clothing, but it is a call to examine our goals for generosity and how we orient our lives around following God in our finances. Do we give from what is left over or do we give from the first fruits?
Excel in Generosity
2 Corinthians 8:6-7
As we’ve learned through our study in 2 Corinthians, Paul sent Titus to minister to the Corinthians during a time of division and conflict. One of Titus’s roles included initiating this generosity campaign (2 Cor 8:6). Notice that Paul called it an act of grace, a Greek word that has the idea of gift and blessing at its root. This act of grace begins with God’s gift of Christ (more on that in the next study guide) but is something we get to participate in. Paul reminded them of areas they excelled already, in faith, speech, knowledge, and earnestness. They were living out a growing faithfulness in their lives, but this area of generosity was a place where they lacked. Paul’s exhortation, complete the work and “excel in this act of grace also.” As a church, West Hills desires to be known for being generous. We desire to devote ourselves to discipleship and mission and to care for one another’s needs.
Much of the generosity of the church happens through formal giving, but it also happens through relationship with he opening up of our lives and resources to care for and bless others. When you think about your life and your finances, do you think that others would say that you excel in generosity? Jesus taught us not to give for the praise of people, so that is not what we’re asking here (Matthew 6:1-4). However, we can give as an outflow of our relationship with God and as a means of worship to him. Take some time in this serious to give serious prayer and thought to how God would have you grow in this area of worship.
At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.
How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week?
Discussion Questions:
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
What are some myths about money and giving in our culture that impact the generosity of Christians in the Bay Area today?
Describe the Macedonian church and how Paul talked about their generosity. Would they be the kind of people you’d expect to be generous?
How is generous giving related to the care and blessing of people?
What are some key influences you’ve had in your life in how you think about money and generosity? What are some ways you’d like to grow during this series in 2 Corinthians 8-9?
