The Grace of God—Door to Liberality and Joy
The grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part. (II Cor. 8:1-2)
II Cor. 8:1-5, 9, 12 and 9:6; Luke 21:1-4; Prov. 11:25; Isa 58:10; Luke 6:38
What Is God Saying?
Things were tough all over. In Jerusalem, Jewish Christians paid a high price for their faith-usually cut off from their families and from their jobs. In Jerusalem, many of the saints were living in grueling poverty, and in Macedonia, the picture was far from rosy. Christians throughout this Roman province along the busy East-West route of commerce, known as the Via Egnatia, suffered harsh treatment at the hands of the Caesar-worshiping Romans. Add to this constant civil wars and we must conclude that Macedonia was not an easy place to eke out a living.
Paul described their situation in two words, extreme poverty, but poverty understands poverty and Paul's account of the hurting saints in Jerusalem fell on responsive ears in Corinth. Also aware of their predicament, Paul was counting on the believers in Corinth, ‘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’ (8:9).
How Does This Apply To Us?
The grace of God is amazing. As he writes to the Corinthian Christians, Paul paints the impossible scenario. There were Gentiles throughout Macedonia living in extreme poverty. Nevertheless, they overflowed with a wealth of liberality for Jewish Christians. Poor people giving liberally. Strangers helping strangers. It's all part of the miracle of God's grace. Not only is all of living transformed by the grace of God, but all of giving is transformed. Jesus enters our hearts and the grace of God re-arranges our priorities, re-assesses our values, and brings us joy. God’s grace brings joy out of affliction and liberality out of poverty.
Pray With Me
Lord, I thank You that through Your grace it is the unexpected that Your children may expect. Thank You for both the certainty and the surprises of Your grace. Apart from Your grace, poverty and affliction would overflow with bitterness and selfish complaint. In Your grace, they overflow with abundant joy and the wealth of liberality. Your grace is both constant and constantly surprising. The meek of the earth have the strength of patience and ultimate victory. The persecuted bless and pardon the persecutor. The afflicted are glad in the face of trial. The poor are liberal. To many, it seems all wrong. According to Your plan, it is all right. Only divine grace can do this.
I thank You, Lord, for days of plenty and nights of peace. I thank You for worthwhile tasks and a healthy body with which to do them. I thank You for the warmth that ample shelter gives to my body and that my friends give to my heart, but above all, I thank You for Your grace which is always the same. In all circumstances, I will lean on Your grace. As bruised flowers yield fragrance, my life will yield joy in affliction. As pressed grapes yield wine, my life will yield liberality in poverty. I claim this because I am persuaded that the promised grace of Christ is all-sufficient.
Praise to Him who bore affliction so that He might give me joy; Who suffered poverty so that He might make me rich. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Let us begin every prayer with our eyes open to the grace of God. Then prayer will flow from the reservoir of abundant joy into channels of lively concern for others. Those channels will not be clogged with concern for our problems, small or great. They will open in overflowing liberality and honest compassion. In this kind of openness, we will discover that our mountainous cares start dwindling and even disappear in the flood of God's amazing grace.
