2 Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
"Charity is the character of God, and charity is the badge of all his people. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. The saints in Macedonia were now severely pressed with persecution, and much poorer than those of Achaia; yet when they heard of the sufferings and poverty of the churches in Judea, who suffered alike from jews and heathens, they were the foremost, and of their own accord, to help the brethren whom they had never seen. Love makes the family of Jesus all one; the rich and the poor, the stranger and the servant, all taste the sweets of heavenly friendship and brotherhood in Christ... The Macedonian charity was accompanied with much of grace. They pressed the apostles to take even more than had been solicited. Having first given themselves to the Lord, they deemed it a small object to honour him with their substance. It is a genuine mark of piety, when men contribute willingly to the gospel, and to the wants of the church; and that not barely as ministers hope, but often to surpass their expectation.” (Sutcliffe's Commentary)
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
Titus had begun taking a collection for the impoverished saints in Judea, but those in the church in Corinth had shunned him. This offering was not lining Paul's pockets. The collections were being sent-- 100%- to those who need it. Paul wanted them to abound in this grace- freely out of love.
7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
The Corinthians abounded in all of these graces: in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us (finally)—see that you abound in this grace (giving) also. Faith is distinct. "Faith is the root; and as without faith it is not possible to please God, Heb 11:6, so those who abound in faith, will abound in other graces and good works also; and this will work and show itself by love. Great talkers are not always the best doers; but these Corinthians were diligent to do, as well as to know and talk well. To all these good things the apostle desires them to add this grace also, to abound in charity to the poor. The best arguments for Christian duties, are drawn from the grace and love of Christ. Though he was rich, as being God, equal in power and glory with the Father, yet he not only became man for us, but became poor also. At length he emptied himself, as it were, to ransom their souls by his sacrifice on the cross. From what riches, blessed Lord, to what poverty didst thou descend for our sakes! and to what riches hast thou advanced us through thy poverty! It is our happiness to be wholly at thy disposal.” (Matthew Henry)
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”(Hebrews 10:23-25)
2 Corinthians 8:10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”[Exodus 16:18]
We are talking about the household of faith. Like the children of Israel, the congregation complained against the Lord and his anointed. “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:3) As the Lord told Moses, likewise He told Paul, and thus He tells us, I will rain down enough to meet all of your needs. "Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.” (Exodus 16:16) It happened then as it happens today, "Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.” (Exodus 16:16) In the congregation in the wilderness, they treated all that they had as common possession; none stockpiled savings accounts for the future. It was all to be consumed that day, not by frivolous living but by distribution among the saints, including the poor regardless of faith.
I am the least of all in the area of stewardship. But we ought not compare ourselves against each other, but rather we should compare ourselves to the Word of God. This is how it ought to be. In terms of our earthly goods, we should be as the congregation in the wilderness. It is reported: "So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. And Moses said, 'Let no one leave any of it till morning.' Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted." (Ex 16:18-21)
Yes, we have to plan for the future. We have to save for retirement.. for the unexpected.... and for education of our children. Or do we? We should not trust in riches. We must concern ourselves with the work of the church. We must not discern so much but give ourselves and our goods freely to the work of Lord. Any extra should be redistributed. Am I ready to do this? Absolutely not! Is God’s Word calling us to of this? I think so; you decide.
You can say that you have good intentions, but you choose to use prudence… and discernment in your giving.
Perhaps this is good, but perhaps your heart, like mine, is not so pure. "Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing without good deeds. Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unless there is perseverance. When men purpose that which is good, and endeavour, according to their ability, to perform also, God will not reject them for what it is not in their power to do. But this scripture will not justify those who think good meanings are enough, or that good purposes, and the mere profession of a willing mind, are enough to save. Providence gives to some more of the good things of this world, and to some less, that those who have abundance might supply others who are in want. It is the will of God, that by our mutual supplying one another, there should be some sort of equality; not such a levelling as would destroy property, for in such a case there could be no exercise of charity. All should think themselves concerned to relieve those in want. This is shown from the gathering and giving out the manna in the wilderness, Ex 16:18. Those who have most of this world, have no more than food and raiment; and those who have but little of this world, seldom are quite without them.” (Matthew Henry)
2 Corinthians 8:16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— 21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show to them, before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
It is Jesus, not Paul, who puts the desire in the heart of the Christian minister--
“From these encomiums we learn the duty of honouring ministers, according to the honour that Christ has conferred upon them in all divine endowments, of personal virtues, and labours wearing out life for the salvation of souls. If you, oh christians, lower your ministers, you lower the Saviour, and destroy religion.
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Ministers who thus preach, suffer, and help the churches, are in brotherhood with the holy apostles, and called THE GLORY OF CHRIST. If the honour of a king consist in the fidelity and valour of his subjects, what king had ever subjects that suffered and laboured like the first planters of christianity? Whoever loved a sovereign as the martyrs [or even willing sufferers] loved Christ? Hence they deserve the honour and esteem of the churches.” (Sutcliffe Commentary)