Excel in this grace

“During a severe testing by affliction, 

their abundance of joy 

and their deep poverty 

overflowed into the wealth 

of their generosity. 

I testify that, on their own, 

according to their ability 

and beyond their ability, 

they begged us insistently for the privilege 

of sharing in the ministry to the saints, 

and not just as we had hoped. 

Instead, they gave themselves 

especially to the Lord, 

then to us by God’s will. 

So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you.”

2 Corinthians 8:2-6

“Now as you excel in everything — faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us — excel also in this grace.”

2 Corinthians 8:7 

“I am not saying this as a command. 

Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.”

2 Corinthians 8:8-9

Excel also in this grace.

It is the fountain from which all of you should flow out of.  This grace.  This grace of Jesus: who for you became poor so that in His poverty YOU might become rich. 

Have you known this grace? 

This is tested and validated by when you have nothing (no money, no wisdom, no happiness, no resources, no clue!) you find that you still have something to give: your self for others.  Though it is not much, it is according to whatever ability you have (to speak to hug, to sit with, to listen, to visit) and beyond your ability (you thought you could not encourage but you end up doing so, or that you could not lead but you end up being the leader)...and with whatever you have you willingly pour out of yourself.  

This is the test that reveals how well you excel in the grace you claim to know. 

Perhaps you realize you do not know grace very well according to that test.  You realize your love is not genuine (self-giving) but rather more giving that's convenient or comfortable.  If you have a day off then you'll schedule in a time to serve someone or if you have an extra $100 then you'll spend $15 to buy someone lunch.  But you realize if you have $15 it will not overflow to buy your friends lunch or if you have no time you will not drop one of your agendas to put the needs of another before yours.  

This is sobering.  Not to say that we must all give and give and give otherwise we are not Christians.  But to show that the genuineness of our love for God is only as genuine as our love for others.  Why?  How?

As Paul writes here: 

“I am not saying this as a command.  (We are not commanded to give our money and time)

Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.”

This just helps us see our selves more clearly.  Most naturally we justify our selfishness.  "I can't buy you lunch because I don't have money (for you, only enough for me)" is this wrong?  Not at all!  But it just shows who you value in that instance more:  your neighbor or your self.  And knowing the grace of Jesus is to know that Jesus put you first before Him even at the very cost of His life.  You have a gift by grace of which without it you would have perished forever.  He gave you something.  If you know what He gave you you know why Paul says this is not a command but a test of your genuine love.  Do you have this love from Jesus?  Is it really His gift that you have received, the one given by grace?  Paul says "excel in this grace"

Do you know you are rich? 

How rich do you believe you really are? 

It will show by the way you give yourself to others. 

To be rich with the wealth that Christ gave you is what?...

Is to know that your wealth is promised and secured.  You know what Christ died to give you or you think you know but you don't really believe it.  Or you just don't know!  

It's to know the riches of what Christ gave you is so much that it literally overflows!

It does NOT FEEL LIKE A COMMAND.

It feels like a PRIVILEGE. 

There's the area where you can bring in your feelings.  Does what you do feel like a command or a privilege? 

Then from there ask God with open hands and an open heart to help you excel in the grace you've been given.  If we mishandle grace in our lives we will mishandle every endeavor because our first and foremost purpose is to give ourselves to God for His will and THEN to others as a by product.  Not the other way around. 

This doesn't necessarily mean stop what you're doing (or maybe it does) but it is more to be aware and constantly realigning your heart to God.  We might find ourselves habitually doing something day to day, whether that's prayer, serving, or stewarding our finances and family--all of which are good things, BUT we must excel in the grace we have been given as Paul wrote.  The grace of knowing that we do what we do not from a need but from an abundance! 

Sigh. 

I need this reminder every single day!

When I do church ministry, go to the gym, study theology, mentor one of my high school students, host a dinner party for friends, feed the homeless, care for the hurting, give to someone in need, or commit time to help out with someone's idea, all of this must be checked in my heart.  Is it an obligation or a need of mine or is it flowing from the abundance of my joy and poverty?  

Is it a privilege to serve or my duty? 

Do I work and speak and do things from an abundance?  Or do I feel like I'm so needy and so I do things, say things, and work at things? 

Paul exhorts the Corinthians to test the genuineness of their love, because whatever you do apart from Christ will be in vain.   Better to let go of 20 years of work done in vain (not genuinely from love) and begin one day in genuine love than to remain there for the sake of quantity.  

Work, study, speak, meet, and do all things out of an abundance and the feeling of privilege not out of need or the feeling of duty.  And when you find yourself miserably "stuck" in the latter...

Excel in this grace:

Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.

Jmegrey