For all of the corrections that Paul had to issue to the Corinthians, he also acknowledged a number of good things that he saw in them.
But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV
(A commentator [Baker, p.297] suggests that these are things that the Corinthians think that they are good at. Perhaps that’s true, but I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt!)
I think that it’s interesting to compare these things in which the Corinthians excel, against the places where they struggled:
- They were earnest and knowledgeable, but sometimes they got too earnest about their teachers, following them instead of having unity. [See 1 Corinthians 3]
- Elsewhere in Corinthians [see 1 Corinthians 5:1-5] , they needed to discipline someone by removing him from their fellowship, but they were to not be so zealous in rooting out sin from the church that they didn’t seek the salvation of the offender.
We, too, must be careful that we don’t misuse things like our Bible knowledge and our earnestness for the gospel. It’s not OK to use our knowledge of the Bible to attack other people who are still learning it, or to use a misguided passion for the gospel to tear down the very people it is meant to save.
The whole gospel is good news, but focusing too much of a narrow part of it without seeing the bigger picture can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, there are verses (even in this part of 2 Corinthians) that are often quoted out of context, but which have a greater meaning as part of the whole chapters in which they appear.
Let’s continue in Paul’s message to the Corinthians.
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 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 8:8-9 NIV
There are a couple of ways to read this passage. One is a bit sarcastic, where we read Paul as playing off the generosity of the Macedonians and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as a way to guilt-trip the Corinthians into giving more. (This is probably what many people think when their pastor preaches about money.)
Another way to look at this passage, though, is as Paul being sincere. He is giving the Corinthians a chance to live out their faith by doing something about it. As James wrote (see James 2:14-26), faith isn’t meant to be something we just say that we believe, but rather (at least, in my words) something that can’t help but show itself in our actions. And, for the Corinthian Christian sitting on some money or possessions, not knowing how to use them for God’s kingdom, here’s a great opportunity!
For every Christian who has said that they don’t know how to live out their faith, not only in being generous, but in walking the walk and talking the talk, I hope that we don’t judge them, but rather teach them what this looks like. Sometimes, I think that a call for support in the church – whether from the pulpit or the classroom – is God providing a means for His people to live out their faith. Not every Christian is necessarily called by God to answer every request, but opportunities for service can show up any time (even where we don’t expect it).
We don’t always get to pick where God wants us to do good works in response to our faith, but we should be ready and willing to listen and to follow Him when He does.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 26, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, May 26, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 2 Corinthians, by William R. Baker. © 1999 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 