by Don Ruhl

Read Second Corinthians Chapter Eight

Why does one church give liberally and another is stingy? It has nothing to do with the financial resources of the church! I remember that in the 1980s there was a severe drought in California. Christians in Nigeria heard of the drought and wanted to help! Imagine that! People from one of the poorer nations on earth wanted to help not only one of the richest nations on earth, but one of the richest states in that nation!

I know of churches now that are poor, but they are liberal in doing good works, and I know of other churches that have plenty of financial reserves, but hold on to their money.

Second Corinthians 8:1,2 shows what moves a church to give, regardless of its financial resources or lack of resources.

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality (2 Corinthians 8:1,2, NKJV).

Paul continues to reveal that this poor church even begged him to be able to help in a certain work. It must be that he told them they needed the help, but they wanted to help others!

You see, the grace of God has been bestowed on all, but few are touched by it. These brethren saw the grace of God, and, although they were experiencing great trials of affliction and were poor, they had overflowing joy, which translated into abundant liberality, making them rich indeed.

If we want to do something, regardless of our circumstances, we will do it. If we want to contribute to something, regardless of our circumstances, we will do it.