Generosity from Poverty

Day 248: 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 day-to-day. Such as…

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).

Paul is so bold as even to mention generosity as an “act of grace.” Giving is an act of grace for the giver and the receiver. In all of this, we see generosity closing the gap on disparity, even in the midst of poverty.

The challenge for us today is to consider how we might be more generous than we currently are. Does your giving to the local Church or other Christian non-profits stretch you, or do you barely feel it? May we continue to step into this enjoyable “act of grace” today!