From Poverty to Generosity

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

'for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,' - 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 NLT

There are all kinds of words in these two verses that generally aren't paired when we hear people speaking.

Affliction >> Joy

Poverty >> Generosity

These churches in Macedonia had been given (by God) a greater perspective on what it means to live the best life possible. Affliction and joy, for most people, don't belong together. We weather the distress to someday get to the joy. When we lack funds, we usually aren't angling as to how we can bless others financially.

Yet this is what happens when Jesus steps into our hearts. He reorders everything. The last are first; the first are last. We start counting it joy when we face trials of many kinds.

We start, for the first time, to live in complete freedom.

We cross from bios (mere earthly living) to zoe (eternal living).