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“God Loves a Cheerful Giver”The Watchtower—1998 | November 1
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But these generous Judeans later fell into poverty. The Bible does not specify just what brought on their condition. Some scholars say that the famine referred to at Acts 11:28, 29 may have been the cause. In any event, the Judean Christians were in dire straits, and Paul wanted to make sure that their needs would be cared for. How would he do so?
A Collection for the Needy
Paul enlisted the help of congregations as far away as Macedonia, and he arranged for a collection to be taken in behalf of the poverty-stricken Christians in Judea. To the Corinthians, Paul wrote: “Just as I gave orders to the congregations of Galatia, do that way also yourselves. Every first day of the week let each of you at his own house set something aside in store as he may be prospering.”a—1 Corinthians 16:1, 2.
Paul intended that these funds be quickly forwarded to the brothers in Jerusalem, but the Corinthians were slow in responding to Paul’s instructions. Why? Were they insensitive to the plight of their Judean brothers? No, for Paul knew that the Corinthians were “abounding in everything, in faith and word and knowledge and all earnestness.” (2 Corinthians 8:7) Likely, they were quite busy attending to other vital matters that Paul addressed in his first letter to them. But now the situation in Jerusalem was urgent. So Paul addressed the issue in his second letter to the Corinthians.
Appeals to Generosity
First, Paul told the Corinthians about the Macedonians, whose response to the relief effort was exemplary. “During a great test under affliction,” Paul wrote, “their abundance of joy and their deep poverty made the riches of their generosity abound.” The Macedonians did not need prodding. On the contrary, Paul said that “they of their own accord kept begging us with much entreaty for the privilege of kindly giving.” The cheerful generosity of the Macedonians is all the more remarkable when we consider that they themselves were in “deep poverty.”—2 Corinthians 8:2-4.
In praising the Macedonians, was Paul trying to stir up a competitive spirit among the Corinthians? Not at all, for he knew that this was not a proper way to motivate. (Galatians 6:4) Furthermore, he knew that the Corinthians did not need to be shamed into doing the right thing. Rather, he had confidence that the Corinthians truly loved their Judean brothers and desired to contribute to the relief effort. “Already a year ago,” he told them, “you initiated not only the doing but also the wanting to do.” (2 Corinthians 8:10) Indeed, in some aspects of the relief effort, the Corinthians themselves were exemplary. “I know your readiness of mind of which I am boasting to the Macedonians about you,” Paul said to them, adding: “Your zeal has stirred up the majority of them.” (2 Corinthians 9:2) Now, though, the Corinthians needed to turn their zeal and their readiness of mind into action.
Hence, Paul told them: “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) Paul’s aim, then, was not to pressure the Corinthians, for a person can hardly be a cheerful giver when he is coerced. Evidently, Paul assumed that proper motive was already present, that each one had already resolved to give. In addition, Paul told them: “If the readiness is there first, it is especially acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what a person does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12) Yes, when the readiness is there—when a person is motivated by love—what he offers will be acceptable to God, no matter how seemingly small the amount.—Compare Luke 21:1-4.
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“God Loves a Cheerful Giver”The Watchtower—1998 | November 1
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a Although Paul “gave orders,” this does not mean that he set forth arbitrary, compulsory demands. Instead, Paul was simply supervising the collection, which involved several congregations. In addition, Paul said that each one “at his own house” was to give “as he may be prospering.” In other words, each contribution was to be made in a private and voluntary manner. No one was coerced.
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