(2Co 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.”  Grace: favor given though not deserved. I don’t deserve to have my sins forgiven, saving my eternal soul, but I believe it by faith. In recognition of that fact I speak of this grace to others (utterance). He in grace teaches me His word (knowledge). Grace towards me prompts me to be faithful (diligence). Grace opens my heart to the Holy Spirit to love all men through me which prompts me to care about their needs (giving).

(2Co 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…..(6) Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.”  Paul is penning this. The Lord is speaking. He has so made us that we are inspired by others to the obedience and joy of doing what is right in His sight. Believers need to be given opportunities to share their victories in Christ.

(2Co 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.”  These precious souls went far beyond the sacrifice of giving (and it was a sacrifice, v.3-4). They set forth the priority as moved by the Holy Spirit. The Lord could supply this need without them giving a single coin. What was most needed was the giving of themselves to the Lord. This is our need as well.

(2Co 8:3) “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; (4) Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”  It seems they gave more than Paul thought necessary for ones so poor. And then, because they were hindered possibly by their own poverty from going, they begged Paul to take it to the saints for them.

(2Co 8:1) “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; (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.”  Faith allows us to look beyond what we see, trusting Him to keep His Word. The Lord sees the widow giving all she has. In other words, the Lord knows our circumstances as meets our every need.

(2Co 7:16) “I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.”  Though many errors had been committed as seen in the First Book to the Corinthians, they proved by their “actions” of repentance that they truly loved the Lord. In other words, they corrected those errors in a desire to please He Who saved their souls! May the same be said of you and me.

(2Co 7:15) “And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.”  Titus could not help but love those who wished to please their Lord, their God, their Savior. How it blesses the soul to fellowship with those who truly love the Lord! People speak of the things they love. There is no greater pleasure for the saved than to fellowship around the teachings of the Word of God.

(2Co 7:14) “For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.”  It is a blessed thing to know that the congregation of which you are part of is made up of genuine God-fearing, obeying Believers. I have visited where I was simply overlooked, and other places where they went out of the way to be kind and thoughtful.

(2Co 7:13) “Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.”  Here we find a good standard for judging our level of love for others. When they are treated well or blessed of God, do we really and truly rejoice with them? If we really love them we will be able to enter into their joy.