PROCLAMATION
“For you
know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your
sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These words
were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of
God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.
In order to help the generous believers in Macedonia,
who are undergoing a severe trial, Paul is requesting a generous gift from the
believers in Corinth. (2 Corinthians
8:1-3) Since the believers in Corinth excelled
in everything, including faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness, and love, Paul
is asking them to excel in the grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7) He
reminded them that The Lord Jesus, The Christ, was rich but became poor for
their sake, so that they through His poverty might become rich. Paul
encouraged them to match their willingness to help with following through and
actually helping by giving according to their means. (2 Corinthians
8:11-12) He urged them to share so that none of the believers would do
without. Then he quoted from the Old Testament scriptures (Exodus 16:18)
to support his request. (2 Corinthians 8:13-15) He ended by saying that
he was sending Titus to them to collect the offering from them. (2 Corinthians
8:22-24)
APPLICATION
The Bible
teaches us that we should help those who are in need. Those of us who
have should share with those who have not. It is better to give than to
receive. (Amos 20:35) When we help those who are in need, we are actually
lending to The Lord and He will repay us for helping them. (Proverbs 19:17)
When we are generous and provide a blessing to others, we will also be blessed.
(Proverbs 11:25) Remember what Christ did for us. He left the
splendor of heaven, put on human flesh, became poor, was rejected, was
crucified, died, was buried, and rose from the dead for us.
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