I’ll Have Seconds, Thanks.

Yesterday Pastor Sam began a series of sermons based in Second Corinthians chapters 8 and 9.

These two chapters contain several verses that have become, for many Christians, part of their cache of memorized Scripture verses, such as:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (Second Corinthians 8:9)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things and at all times, having all that you need, you will abound to every good work. (Second Corinthians 9:8)

But simply learning individual verses outside of the context of the chapter leaves us lacking in wisdom. The most powerful aspect of yesterday’s sermon was that our pastor took the time to clarify the context in which this letter to the Corinthians was written, and thus the context in which we should understand the call to give to God.

The grace of giving. These groups of Macedonian believers were living in extreme poverty (Second Corinthians 8:2), yet they were extravagant participants in the act of giving from their limited resources in order to be a blessing to the impoverished Christian community in Jerusalem. God had touched their hearts with His grace, and they responded out of their love for Him.

The gestalt of giving. The Macedonian believers did not merely take up a collection. Scripture informs us that they “first gave themselves to the Lord” (Second Corinthians 8:5). The act of extravagant giving of finances was possible because they already engaged in extravagant giving of their hearts, souls, minds, and strength to the Lord. There was complete obedience to God; He was Lord of their entire being. No area was “off-limits” to Him.

Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed in Jesus?

Have you been a recipient of God’s grace?

Do you know what it is to completely give yourself to God?

Are you allowing Him to rule every area of your life?