Paul was working on a donation that the churches would offer to the church in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the home of the first church, the mother church, if you will. Jerusalem was the city where the apostles were continuing their work, but they were continuing the work under persecution and under significant financial stress as well.

So Paul’s desire was to share with the church in Jerusalem, and as he shared this desire, the vision to share with the church in Jerusalem, Paul began to also hear from the other churches in their desire to share in the work. And the response from the Macedonian churches was astounding:

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.

2 Corinthians 8:3-4

The Macedonians were not rich. In fact, they were quite poor, yet their hearts had been changed such that they wanted to participate in giving. They wanted to be generous. In fact, they urgently pleaded with Paul so that he would accept their gift. We don’t know if Paul had suggested that they not give, or possibly give less, but it seems that may have been a possibility. Yet the Macedonian churches truly wanted to participate. They truly wanted to be a part of what was happening. They urgently pleaded with Paul that they could give.

So Paul used this example as he wrote to the Corinthians to help them understand the heart of giving as a result of the change that Christ has made within us. Jesus had given all in his love for the Macedonians, and now the Macedonians are giving all that they could give for the body of Christ.

This is the change that Christ makes within us when we realize the truth of salvation that he has given to us. Not only does he give us eternal life, but a new heart. This changes everything, and as a result, makes us want to no longer live for ourselves, but to live for him and for his glory. We no longer want to keep everything for ourselves, but we want to give everything to him and for him.

This is the example that Paul is putting on display for the Corinthians. He is helping the Corinthian church to see that God has so completely changed the hearts of the Macedonian churches that they would plea with him to receive the gift that they had prepared, asking him to take their money such that it would be a blessing for the people living in Jerusalem.

What does this teach us? What do we do? How have we been changed? Are we living in this same way that we would urgently plea that someone would receive the gift that we have been called to give?

Or do we live for ourselves? Do I instead simply live for me?

We each, whether we make a lot of money or a little, have the privilege of sharing with another. This could be through our finances, or it could be through our time, or in giving what we have. Each person has received and so each person, as a result of what Christ has done in them, should also give. And in giving from what we have, we do not only give from our plenty, but we give urgently and pleadingly because of the great gift that has been given to each of us.