2 Corinthians 8:6-9 

⁶So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷But 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. ⁸I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹For 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.

Grace Period

         When teachers assign projects to students, they also set a deadline or due date for submission. If students cannot submit their projects at a due date or deadline, “grace period” may possibly be given. Grace period is extended time beyond deadline. Everyone may appreciate grace period.

         Do you intentionally take advantage of grace period? If we delay any given project, will it really matter? If intentionally we delay what we can do today, we may lose some sense of urgency. Actually, we could miss some opportunities to excel if always delay what we can accomplish at present.

         If we always delay what we can do at the moment, we disregard our best potentials and can be restricted to mediocrity. Grace period should only be used during emergency situation when unavoidable circumstances is prioritized. Intentional use of grace periodmay reflects our priority.

         In comparison, we don’t delay what we can accomplish at present when God’s graceis activated in us. By his grace, God transforms us into new person and we aspire to do better than what is expected of us. It’s by his grace, we prioritize the Lord and explore our best adventure in Christ.

         Let’s learn from what the Lord advised Peter in Matthew 18:21-22.

         ²¹Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” ²²Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

         In Hebrew culture, number 7 symbolizes wholeness, perfection and holiness. To forgive 7x should be perfect. But the Lord instructed that we forgive 77x. To forgive 77x is perfectly holy forgiveness. We forgive 77x those who offend us when by God’s grace the Holy Spirit inspires us.

         Someone said, “Hate, anger, rage or thirst for revenge may control us possibly. But hate can no longer control us when we forgive offenders.”

         How does God forgive us? When we ask God to forgive us, he sends his anger away from us. He releases us also from the penalty of sin.

         Many times, we commit sin. Many times we disobey the Lord. Many times, we do not prioritize him. When we repent, God faithfully forgives us, purifies us from all unrighteousness and lets his wrath go away from us.

         Seriously together, let’s reflect on what it declares in 1 John 1:8-10,

         ⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

         When we repent, God forgives us and even when we are not aware of it, he purifies from unrighteous tendencies. That is God’s grace which is gratifying favor of God. When God grants us his grace, we respond with praise and gratitude. Gratitude to God could be expressed in our speech.

1. Speech

          ⁶So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷But 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.

         The church in Corinth excelled in faith. Their speech testified to their knowledge and complete earnestness and love. After Paul rebuked them, they responded proactively. When Titus visited Corinth, he noticed practical changes in their lives. It encouraged Paul and his team to endure ministry challenges when Titus told them that the Corinthians were transformed.

         Certainly, Paul and his mission team praised God that the Corinthians excelled in everything. Paul was a spiritual father of the Corinthians. When he told them to excel also in the grace of giving, it was his fatherly instinct that prevailed. Good fathers wants their children to excel or even do better.

Wooden Chair

         Our neighbor ordered wooden chair from my father, but he had other orders. So, he told me to make wooden chairs for our neighbor. He gave me a pattern of chair I can follow, but I designed a style that I assumed as simple but elegant. After completion of those chairs, my father commented, “It’s good but do it better next time.” I interpreted that my work was fairly acceptable but I could make my next project better and better.

         Doing better than my previous work is a legacy that my father left for me to remember. My best standard may not be his best standard. I believe the Lord blesses me more if I exert my best or better than previous project.

         The commandments of God are standard behavior for his children. Can anyone obey 100% his commandments? How should we explain to a child or to ordinary person about keeping the law in James 2:10-11?

            ¹⁰For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ¹¹For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

         What God tells us to do can only be accomplished by godly effort. Sinful nature limits us from obeying the Lord. We must depend on his grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit for us to excel in godly righteousness.

         It’s an act of God’s grace that the Corinthians excelled in everything. They excelled in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in love. Apostle Paul heard about it, and he challenged them to excel also in the grace of giving. When the Macedonian churches receive God’s grace, they sacrificially gave beyond their ability despite severe poverty.

         Severe poverty resulted to generous giving among the Macedonians. Apostle Paul mentioned the transformation of the Macedonian churches to challenge the Corinthians to excel also in giving and prove their sincerity.

2.  Sincerity

          ⁸I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 

         Apostle Paul praised the generosity of the Macedonian churches to  test the sincerity of the Corinthians. Scholars suggests that the Corinth was located at the financial district of Achaia. So obviously, the Corinthians were supposed to be the most prosperous believers in their generation.

         With financial abundance, they can easily give to the mission ministry more than what other churches may contribute elsewhere. The Corinthians can practically prove their sincerity if they can also give beyond their ability to give, similar to sacrificial giving of the Macedonian churches.

         Genuine Christians are expected to return the tithes of God. It is an act of God’s grace when we give more than what’s expected. Practically, it proves our sincerity and gratitude when we sacrificially give beyond ability.

Widow’s Offering

         Let’s learn about sacrificial giving from the widow in Mark 12:41-44.

         ⁴¹Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. ⁴³Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

         Listen: By human perspectives, the amount of money is what counts. In God’s eyes, it’s our behavior and attitude of giving that counts the most.

         If you earn $1,000,000, you may give $100,000 as God’s portion. If you earn $1,000, you may return to God $100 as his portion. $100,000 is readily appreciated generous giving. But surely, God commends anyone, whether poor or wealthy, who gave more than 10% of what they received.

         God blessed us with many great things: eternal life, wisdom, safety, health, good employers and many more. By his grace, we give his right portion as practical proof of our gratitude for his generous provision.

         The church is the body of Christ. He sustains the church financial obligations. Most often, churches would favor the rich who gave more money. It warns in James 2:5 & 9, ⁵Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? ⁹If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

         Favoritism is partial favor, bias respect or unfair treatment to others. Naturally, we are partial and bias to people we favor. Someone may argue, “But we just cannot treat everybody alike. We cannot favor anyone who offends us, right?” True! We are warned not to show favoritism.

         If we do not let others see how we play favoritism, is it acceptable?

         Reflect on Romans 2:11, ¹¹For God does not show favoritism.

         It’s godly virtue not to show favoritism. Favoritism is unfair treatment like: punish the poor but not the powerful. God is just and fair. Anyone who sin against the Lord will be punished. But anyone who obeys God will be rewarded, whether they are rich or poor, powerful or not,  famous or not.

         Is it considered as favoritism when God chooses whoever is suitable for his purposes? It declared in Luke 1:28. ²⁸The angel went to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

         Mary lived in Nazareth. Nazareth was known for notorious people. Yet Mary kept herself pure virgin. She behaved well. God could have chosen a woman from Jerusalem. But God preferred Mary from Nazareth. The virgin Mary was favored by the Lord to be the human mother of Jesus Christ.

         God favors his most precious Son Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior. Sacrificially on the cross, Jesus was tortured to death for our sake.

3.  Sake

            ⁹For 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.

         It’s by God’s grace we believe through faith that Christ reconciled us to God. His sacrificial crucifixion paid for the penalty of our sins. He raised from the dead and returned to heaven. He will come again sooner.

         The Corinthians came to know intimately the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s an act of grace they excelled in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in love. Paul expected them also to excel in the grace of giving. Jesus Christ exemplified the grace of giving. He’s rich yet, he become poor for our sake,  that we might become rich.

         The term rich is easily understood as monetary wealth. We can buy practical necessities with money. It’s by his grace that God provides for our needs, and we believe it. And as practical response expression of gratitude toward God’s generous provisions, it’s proper to return his portion.

         By his grace we could excel in the grace of giving or support mission ministry. Do you believe that God gives wisdom to make wealth?

         Remember what it instructed in Deuteronomy 8:18, ¹⁸Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

         How’s that? Wealth is primarily consideration when we choose our career path. Many parents discourage their children to become pastor because they think that pastors are not properly paid. What do you think? Should pastors deserve salary increase? Pastors or not yet, I trust that God provides for our needs for us to testify of his gracious generosity. Amen?

Rich Dad Poor Dad

         It is by faith we believe that God gives wisdom to produce wealth. Do you read books about how to get rich? Have you read Rich Dad Poor Dad book? In his book, Robert Kiyosaki advised how to make money grow. Many testifies say they found the book useful but not everyone promote it. Possibly, they have missed his best advice to return the portion of God.

         Hard work is useful, but it is God who makes anyone prospers. How do you personally interpret what it declares in Proverbs 22:2? ²Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.

         God can make anyone rich or poor, but he commanded us to return his tithes, why? Practically, it’s a test of faith in his promise to pour out so much blessings from heaven and not enough room to store them only if we return his right portion. May gracious God increase our faith to trust him.

         Actually, by God’s grace we trust and obey his command to return his tithes. It’s act of his grace we believe his promise to bless us abundantly.

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