Chapter 34—Liberality Commended
The apostle Paul, in his ministry among the churches, was untiring
in his efforts to inspire in the hearts of the new converts a desire to
do large things for the cause of God. Often he exhorted them to the
exercise of liberality. In speaking to the elders of Ephesus of his former
labors among them, he said, “I have showed you all things, how that so
laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of
the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35
.
“He which soweth sparingly,” he wrote to the Corinthians, “shall
reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let
him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:6, 7
.
Nearly all the Macedonian believers were poor in this world’s
goods, but their hearts were overflowing with love for God and His
truth, and they gladly gave for the support of the gospel. When general
collections were taken up in the Gentile churches for the relief of the
Jewish believers, the liberality of the converts in Macedonia was held
up as an example to other churches. Writing to the Corinthian believ-
ers, the apostle called their attention to “the grace of God bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction
the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the
riches of their liberality. For to their power, ... yea, and beyond their
power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty
that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints.”
2 Corinthians 8:1-4
.
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The willingness to sacrifice on the part of the Macedonian believers
came as a result of wholehearted consecration. Moved by the Spirit of
God, they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (
2 Corinthians 8:5
);
then they were willing to give freely of their means for the support
of the gospel. It was not necessary to urge them to give; rather, they
rejoiced in the privilege of denying themselves even of necessary
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