Submit 2

2 Corinthians 8:4-5

Most are familiar with the expression that there is “too much month left at the end of the money.” Almost everyone feels the need to have more income, more financial reserve, more ability to take care of bills and expenses in life. When confronted with all of our financial obligations we are easily convinced that there is absolutely no money to spare for anyone else.

In this second letter to the church at Corinth Paul makes reference to the giving of believers in Macedonia. The people in the Macedonian church were impoverished. They apparently had very little money available to them. What did the Macedonian believers want to do? How did they surprise Paul? Who did they give to first?

The giving spirit of the Macedonian church is an example to all believers. These people who had very little money for their own needs were still eager to share what little they had. They wanted to support ministry. They wanted to financially help others in need, to fund outreach efforts that helped others. They not only pleaded for the opportunity, they pleaded urgently to be able to share.

In spite of their poverty they were able to impress Paul with their generosity. They gave willingly and did not begrudge anyone who would benefit from it.

But it is also important to note how they gave. Paul says they gave to God first and then to those doing ministry. Like the widow who served Elijah the gifts given out of extreme poverty were first given to God. God was put before everything else, and we can imagine that this church was richly blessed.

We each may claim that we don’t have enough money to do anything that would help anyone else. We can fall into that fear that if we give away anything we will be depriving ourselves of necessities. But if we give anything out of our finances and we give it to God first and foremost, we will be blessed by God.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Can you give to God first and trust that the rest of your money will be enough?