2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 8
Paul’s Tactful Appeal and Recommendation. 2 Cor. 8, 1–24.
A proof of their love for Christ: V.9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that yet through His poverty might be rich. V.10. And here in I give my advice; for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
This introduces the weightiest argument of all: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for our sakes He became poor, though He was rich, in order that you through His poverty might be made rich.
With this fact the Corinthians were familiar, since it was one of the basic doctrines taught by the apostle, just as it is repeated in all Gospel-preaching in a manifold variation. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ the apostle reminds them of, the free kindness and favor, whose only reason and motive is His eternal love for sinful mankind.
This grace was revealed and put into execution in such a way that he for their sakes, for the sake of all men, became poor, subjected Himself to the deepest poverty, and that although He was rich. The rich Lord of heaven, the Possessor of the fullness of divine glory and of the abundance of all treasures, became poor, denied Himself the use and enjoyment of even ordinary prosperity, and lived all His life in the depths of poverty.
But incidentally He poured out upon us the full measure of the spiritual riches in heavenly places, giving us all the more of spiritual treasures as He lacked earthly treasures.
With such an example of supreme self-sacrifice before their eyes at all times, what could the Corinthians, what can the Christians of all time, do but strive with all the spiritual power at their command to emulate the great example and to follow in the footsteps of their great Lord?
Instead of commanding, therefore, the apostle writes: And my opinion I give in this matter, for this is profitable for you, inasmuch as, not only in doing, but also in intending to do, you were the first to make a beginning last year.
The apostle, in this case, deliberately chose not to give definite and detailed instructions, because his advice at this time would be better, more expedient, would serve his purposes with more profit. For as much as a year ago, when Paul had first laid the matter of a collection for Jerusalem before them, they had intimated their willingness. They had so much of a start of the Macedonians not only in carrying out the plan, but also in the original purpose.
In such a case, then, where people are fully willing to do the right thing, they derive greater moral advantage from a word of counsel than from any injunction. Here is a hint in pastoral tact for ministers and church boards as well as for parishioners in general.