The second example of giving under grace shows how Christ gave (il Corinthians 8 :9 ). This is the devine illustration. What blessed and glorious truth it is for our heart’s rejoicing. Then, finally Paul advises us how we are to give under grace (II Corinthians 8:10-15; 9 :6 , 7). We see first of all that it is to be willingly (vs. 10, 11, 12). He was a c t u a l l y commend i ng the Corinthians for their willingness expressed earlier when they said t hey woul d send gifts to Jerusalem. That was easy since the actual performance was at some remote time. Paul had been waiting for their fulfillment. Much of a Christian’s life is controlled by his will. The greatest problem is not planning what to do, but having strength, energy and motivation to do that which one knows he should do (II C o r i n t h i a n s 8 : 1 2 ) . Jesus personified this principle in the parable of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:42-44). He commended her not because she gave so much or so little, but rather that she had given all that she had. We note that she had at least two mites. Now, she could have divided it in half and given only a portion. (F ifty percent is better than most people give.) She wasn’t forced to give it all. Here is the evidence of her willing mind. As someone has said, the widow’s mite became the widow’s might! We are also told to give proportionately (II Corinthians 8:13-15). God’s divine plan is based upon the principle of maintaining a balance both in this universe and His church. Paul observes His way of balancing in verse 14 where an equality is
m a in ta ined between “ your a b u n d a n c e ’ ’ and “ t he i r abundance.” Paul wrote of this same balance in Philippians 4 :19 : “ But my God (the God who has met my need through your gifts) shall supply all your need (in proportion to the way in which you have met my need), according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The third principle of giving under grace is suggested in the wo r d “ b o u n t i f u l l y ’ ’ ( I I Corinthians 9 :6 ). A farmer who wanted to increase his crops in the fall would never think of sowing less seed in the spring. In a spiritual dimension the same is true for the believer who wants to live victoriously in Christ. “ You can live on less when you have more to live for” , is a good idea. This becomes the stewardship dimension of the abundant life of the Christian. The fourth principle of giving under grace is that it should be done cheerfully (II Corinthians 9 :7 ). Someone has said that there are three kinds of givers: the flint giver, who has to be struck before he will give; the spunge giver, who has to be squeezed before he will give; and the honeycomb giver, who just gives and gives out of the sweetness of his own inner self. When the Christian has reached this stage of his experience then his stewardship of giving under grace becomes a thanksgiving unto God (9:11). Stewardship has been defined as that which happens to mine when something happens to me. This enrichment by God’s grace causes an element of thanksgiving unto the Lord. When every Christian Page 27
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