CHRISTIAN FAITHFULNESS IN

GIVING BEYOND GOD’S

EXPECTATION

2CORINTHIANS 8:1-9 “Moreover, brethren, we do

you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches
of Macedonia;
2Cor 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded
unto the riches of their liberality.
2Cor 8:3 For to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and
beyond [their] power [they were] willing of themselves;
2Cor 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would
receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints.
2Cor 8:5 And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first
gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will
of God.
2Cor 8:6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had
begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
2Cor 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every [thing], [in]
faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all
diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in
this grace also.
2Cor 8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion
of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of
your love.
2Cor 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Introduction:
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a. The faithfulness of the Macedonian church was
beyond God’s expectation and Paul was a witness
to their faithfulness in giving to the work of the
Lord.
b. Paul was very proud of the strong faith of the
Macedonian church and used this opportunity to
encourage the Corinthian church to give to the
Lord.
c. I hope and pray that this lesson will be an
encouragement to our church so that we can reach
our goal for our balcony construction project.

5 Great Things We Can Learn From Macedonian

Faithfulness In Giving:

I. THEY GAVE LIBERALLY WITH JOY DESPITE

THEIR DEEP POVERTY

2CORINTHIANS 8:2 “How that in a great trial of

affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep
poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
a. The Macedonian gave to the Lord with liberality
and with joy in spite of their deep poverty.
b. The normal Christian habit was that they would
give based on their prosperity but the Macedonian
gave liberally even when they were in deep
poverty.
c. This giving is by faith with total sacrifice.

II. THEY GAVE LIBERALLY WITH WILLINGNESS

BEYOND THEIR CAPABILITY

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2CORINTHIANS 8:3 “For to [their] power, I bear
record, yea, and beyond [their] power [they were]
willing of themselves;”
a. This kind of giving gives with strong faith and
faithfulness.
b. This giving was inconvenient because they gave
themselves to the Lord.
2CORINTHIANS 8:5 “And [this they did], not as we
hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and
unto us by the will of God.”
c. This giving is an example of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
2CORINTHIANS 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your
sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might
be rich.”

III. THEY GAVE LIBERALLY WITH SINCERITY

TO PROVE THEIR LOVE FOR GOD

2CORINTHIANS 8:7-8
a. It is a giving with the abundant grace of God.
2CORINTHIANS 8:7 “Therefore, as ye abound in every
[thing], [in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and
[in] all diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye
abound in this grace also.
b. It is a giving that proves the reality of our love
for God.
2CORINTHIANS 8:8 “I speak not by commandment,
but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to
prove the sincerity of your love.”
c. God loves the cheerful giver. It is giving that
urges the Christian to be like Christ in giving.
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2CORINTHIANS 9:7 “Every man according as he
purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

IV. THEY GAVE LIBERALLY WITH A READINESS

OF THEIR HEARTS TO GOD

2CORINTHIANS 8:11
a. The giving with readiness of heart was the
manifestation of our strong faith to God.
b. The giving with readiness and willingness of
heart to God proves our deep love for God.
2CORINTHIANS 8:12 “For if there be first a willing
mind, [it is] accepted according to that a man hath, [and]
not according to that he hath not.”

5. THEY GAVE LIBERALLY BASE THE EXAMPLE

OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

(IICor8:9)
a. The Lord Jesus Christ is our prime example in
our Christian life.
( Ephesians 5:1-2 ) 1 Be ye therefore followers of God,
as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for
a sweetsmelling savour.
b. Christ is our example in giving with grace of the
Lord .
( 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 )
* God bless you all *