Giving From a Heart of Love

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 (ESV)

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among 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 generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as

I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of

taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first

to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

In our social media last month, we thanked the Lord for His gracious leadership in our lives. We did so by

highlighting a few men (since Father’s Day was in June!) who lead and serve at Grace Chapel.

Part of godly leadership is giving from a heart of love. In 2 Corinthians, Paul is taking up an offering for

the poor in the church at Jerusalem. He has traveled and asked churches in different countries and cities

to give toward this need. In the passage above, Paul raises the churches in Macedonia as examples to

inspire the Corinthians in their giving to the needy. Surprisingly, we find that the saints in Macedonia were

in great trial, yet the grace of God was so strong that they begged to give toward this need!

How did these believers in Macedonia become the type of people who beg to give to the work of the

Lord? Well, we know it did not happen because of the great conditions in Macedonia! After all, they are

under severe testing and face extreme poverty (v. 2). And yet, in this they have an abundance of joy and

overflowing generosity. How do they give from a heart of love in the midst of such conditions?

I think the not-so-secret reason is in verse 5. They gave themselves first to the Lord, and then by the will

of God to us.

They were not primarily concerned with their own circumstance. And their first thought was not how the

offering might benefit them. They did not ask, “What’s in it for our local church people?” Their first

question wasn’t even about their preference.

According to verse five, the first thing they did was give themselves to the Lord. Once they gave

themselves to the Lord, anything He was doing, they were for!

For a believer, giving from a heart of love starts right there. We don’t first give to causes and ministries.

No, we have given ourselves to the Lord first. All of our lives belong to Him. We love Him and serve Him.

We have found Him to be worth more than anything! Long ago (in the 90’s :) we sang a song:

Lord, You are more precious than silver;

Lord, You are more costly than gold;

Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds;

And nothing I desire compares with You.

Giving themselves to Jesus is what allowed the Christians in Macedonia to give their treasures from

loving, joyful hearts. They found Jesus to be worth more than anything else in the whole world!

What causes us to be the type of people who give from a heart of love? Well, come to find out it is not a

“what” at all. Rather, it is a Who. We have given ourselves to Jesus. He is more precious to us than

anything in the world. So much so that if He is doing something, we might just beg to be part of it.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)

“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 by his poverty might become rich.”

Pastor Jeremy Noel