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“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.”
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2 Corinthians‬ ‭8:1-2‬
 
Regular folks like you and me probably have hit rock bottom at some point. Bills kept piling up while no income was being generated, especially during the pandemic. Naturally, giving would seem impossible at this stage as we were barely breathing. That situation is entirely ordinary, logical, and relatable.
 
But we Christians have a great example found in the Bible. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul reminds the believers in Achaia of the promise they made a year ago. They pledged to give monetary support to the suffering Christians in Judea. However, things became a little too complicated between Paul and the Corinthians, causing the latter to put their pledge on the back burner.
 
Paul understood that getting the Corinthians involved in this ministry of giving would be pretty challenging, causing him to teach them that giving is an act of grace. In an attempt to persuade the Corinthians to honor their word, the Apostle mentioned the Macedonian believers, who, despite their severe poverty, found ways to give a considerable offering to the Christians in Judea.
 
Christians in the region of Macedonia, much like the believers in the Roman Empire, suffered at the hands of their persecutors. Most of them lost their jobs because of severe persecution; others no longer wanted to get involved in the idolatrous nature of their work, leading them to poverty. Their experience was above and beyond simple financial difficulty; it was an impossible trial and affliction.
 
How did they manage to bless the Jewish Christians? They understood that giving is more blessed than receiving (Acts 20:35). But didn’t we just find out that the Macedonians were poverty-stricken? Why were they considered more blessed? Because blessedness doesn’t always come in the form of money and possessions. They were more blessed spiritually. That’s because this singular act of generous, sacrificial giving not only addresses the immediate needs of the suffering Jewish believers, but it’s also a step toward the church's unity.
 
When the Macedonians set aside their personal needs and put the needs of their poor Jewish brothers, they proved to have received God’s abundant grace. That’s an amazing, awe-inspiring act of love and compassion. To the eyes of the unbelieving world, what the Macedonians did would look borderline crazy, but in the sight of God, it’s called selflessness.
 
Life is about choices. We can be like the stingy Corinthians if we want to—or we can be like the generous Macedonians if we have a real appreciation for God’s grace. At the end of the day, what we do flows from what’s inside our hearts. If Christ lives in us, we will do as He has done: He became poor so that we might become rich. May you follow His and the Macedonians’ example and demonstrate extraordinary giving.
 
Pursue the Savior today!