For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. – 2 Corinthians 8:9
In Bohemia of the 10th century, Christians celebrated according to Eastern Orthodoxy. The Saint Stephen’s Day feast was observed on December 26. The monarch of Bohemia at that time was highly regarded for what his people saw as great piety, “as well as princely vigor.” A 12th–century historian wrote, “He went around to God’s churches and gave alms generously to widows, orphans, those in prison and afflicted with every difficulty.” Sometime in the 13th century, a song was written about the king’s compassion and generosity, and it has been passed down to today when it is included among many carols at Christmas. You know it as “Good King Wenceslas.”
In the portion of 2 Corinthians from which today’s verse is taken, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to be generous in their giving. Believers in the church at Jerusalem had suffered because of their identification with Jesus. They lost their jobs; their families denied them; they were poor. In contrast, the culture of Corinth allowed those believers to keep their wealth. So the apostle reminded them that Jesus gave up everything, and they should adopt a generous, sacrificial, voluntary program of giving, seeing it as a privilege, not an obligation.
Henry Morris reminds you, “This great gift of grace is the standard against which our own practice of the grace of giving must always be compared.” Giving to those less fortunate than yourself is one way for Christians to show the love and grace of Jesus. The Savior gave up all His riches of heaven because of His loving heart for all. However, merely opening your wallet is not sufficient. You have been given the riches of wisdom and gifts of the Holy Spirit in order that you should also give of the good works God designed you to do.
Dwight L. Moody said, “This poor world is groaning and sighing for sympathy—human sympathy.” Part of your mission as a believer is to reflect the heart of God. God’s mercy and grace are your motivation; Jesus’ sacrifice is your example. Dr. David Jeremiah writes, “Our God is a generous God and, since we are made in his image, we can take comfort as his children in knowing that generosity is within our reach.” He adds, “Before you do the big things, do the little things.” King Wenceslas, in the carol, provides footsteps for a poor man to follow through the snow. It was a small thing compared to the alms he regularly gave to the churches, but to that man, it was what he needed right then. Ask God to reveal to you generous moments you should not ignore—big and small. He will guide you.
Today’s Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
8 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 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. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
