PROCLAMATION
“For
ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for
your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2
Corinthians 8:9 (KJV)
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 were undergoing a severe trial,
Paul was 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 asked
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. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Paul encouraged them to match their willingness to help with their 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 give and 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, did
nothing but good and was rejected, was crucified, He died, was buried, and rose
from the dead for us to pay the debt for our sins.
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