Philanthropy from the poor

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, May 31, 2026

 

2 Corinthians 8:1-5

 

Title: Philanthropy from the poor

 

Notice the following:

1. they gave freely
2. they gave above their means and
3. they understood the value of service to the brethren.

 

The Macedonians were impoverished. They gave freely anyway for the sake of other saints, and Paul praised them for doing so.

 

Paul was familiar with the people of Macedonia:

ACT 16:4-11, ACT 19:13-22

 

What’s the application for us? We should also give freely. There’s no fixed amount to giving, and no NT commandment that believers tithe.

 

Here’s a reminder about where tithing was mandated for the people of Israel, and there’s no NT equivalent:

LEV 27:30-34

 

The people of Israel did not assure the welfare of the neediest among them, and God was unhappy as a result:

ISA 10:1-6

 

Remember what Jesus Christ said about the poor:

JOH 12:1-8

 

Notably, the Macedonians also gave above their means. Affliction was no excuse — they gave anyway and volunteered to do so.

 

David was afflicted and yet recognized his situation as good one: PSA 119:66-72

 

Remember the widow Jesus praised, who gave all that she had into the treasury:

MAR 12:41-44

 

God gave liberally to us, remember:

JOH 3:14-18, ROM 8:26-32

 

Outside of giving freely, what else can we learn from the Macedonians? They understood their obligation of service to the saints generally.

 

Meeting the needs of the saints is an obligation we all have.

MAT 22:34-40,

MAR 10:35-43

 

The gifts the apostles receive were to be used in service to others:

MAT 10:1-8; ACT 3:1-8

 

Paul used resources from the people of Macedonia to help serve others: ROM 15:20-27

 

Remember that the people of Israel wanted for nothing: EXO 16:11-18

 

Paul praised the Macedonians for their giving above their means even amid severe persecution. How open is your heart to others in need? In what ways are you contributing?

 

The Macedonians also understood that their giving was in service to others. What we do essentially is serve one another, and we should do so gladly.

 

Corinth’s readers were in a much different situation than their counterparts in Macedonia, which helps color Paul direction(s) to them. We’ll address that next week, Lord willing.