(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.

(2Co 7:12) “Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.”  If one is to be corrected, their good must be at the uttermost in that decision. I remember once in a deacon’s meeting, over a hour discussing the best way to approach someone, simply because their good was being held utmost in our minds. 

(2Co 7:11) “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”  What is the example of godly repentance? Answer: the action of either setting forth evidence as to innocence or an active humbling of self as one seeks to correct the error.

(2Co 7:10) “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”  It seems most today think souls will respond to the gospel by giving them that which is most sweet – the love of God. They will mention the cross, but not tell the lost their own responsibility for what happened there. How then can that soul bring forth a godly sorrow that produced repentance unto salvation?