Generosity of the Macedonians
Key Verses: 2, 3, 9, 13,
The Macedonian believers were an example of extreme giving and held up by Paul as the model of giving. Notice that they gave beyond their ability, eagerly and energetically. Paul says the key to this kind of giving is that they gave themselves first to the Lord. They didn’t hold back. No reservations! Are you this type of giver? Are you a giver or a tipper? Do you calculate your giving (a tipper) or do you follow the leading of the Spirit, giving with abandon?
Jesus is the example of giving. He had everything and gave it all up for us so that we might receive His riches. Eternity to time, limitless power to infant weakness, complete knowledge to learning obedience, sinless perfection to bearing the consequences of our sin: that is what Christ gave for us. Are you willing to give it all to Him? The Macedonians gave themselves unabashedly to the Lord. Then their generosity flowed from that surrender. I think our problem is often that we have not surrendered. We hold part back, perhaps as a contingency fund, just in case He doesn’t come through. They trusted! We often don’t.
It is not that we should send every penny we have to those living in poverty so that they live in our opulence and we in their abject poverty, but that there should be a shared life. This is where capitalism often fails. It believes the lie that each individual has the ability to lift himself without ever thinking about those who are left behind. It believes that we can continue to raise the standard of living without ever considering the consequences. Capitalism is never satisfied. It always wants more.
The final issue that Paul addresses is that of accountability. He speaks of having a group of people responsible for the safe transport of the offering from giver to receiver. This lessens the possibility of corruption and greed. Organizations need to have mechanisms in place to ensure the safe transfer of money collected. Having multiple and rotating individuals count the offering and having the financial records audited by an independent firm are two things we often do to ensure the integrity of the process. Not many things are worse than financial fraud with church funds.
The Arnold Journey 