As I read 2Corinthians 8 this morning it occurs to me how often I misuse the word “grace.” For example I’m late to meet my buddy for coffee on Friday mornings (which I do way too often) . . . and I say, “Sorry” . . . and he says, “No sweat” . . . and I say, “You’re so gracious.” Or, I goof up on something (won’t say how often that happens) . . . and feel bad about it . . . and try to make up for it somehow . . . and the person who was counting on me says, “Don’t worry about it” . . . and I say, “Thanx for showing grace”. But I’m reminded as I read this morning that grace is not the withholding of that which is due. Rather, it is the giving . . . the generous giving . . . the giving beyond ability . . . of that which has not been earned. Paul refers to it three times in this passage as “this act of grace” (8:6, 7, 19)

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.    
(2Corinthians 8:7 ESV)

Specifically, “this act of grace” referred to by Paul was the taking up of a collection for the Christians in Jerusalem. It cost believers to be believers in Jerusalem. You can imagine the price they paid by embracing Jesus as Messiah in a culture that, by and large, had rejected Jesus as being God’s Anointed. You can imagine it was hard to find work . . . that family would have withdrawn support . . . and so Paul was determined, when he went to Jerusalem, to go with a gift to aid these impoverished saints. And just as the Gentile churches of Macedonia had determined to provide such a gift, Paul wanted the believers at Corinth to also engage in “this act of grace.”

So, some principles in this passage about “this act of grace” that I think illustrate the dynamics of grace. First, it was not a withholding but a giving. Grace was manifest as a “wealth of generosity” . . . as not giving “according to their means”, but “beyond their means of their own accord” (8:2b, 3). Whether it’s cash or compassion, grace involves the outpouring of that which we have to those who haven’t earned it . . . and maybe, we might think, don’t even deserve it.

Also, “this act of grace” is sourced in the giving of ourselves first to the Lord (8.5). Seems there’s a correlation between the degree to which we “grace to others” and the degree to which we have first given ourselves fully and faithfully to the Lord . . . the degree to which we have first presented our “bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom. 12:1). When we’ve given it all to Him first, then giving it to others, whether that’s money or moral support, should come more naturally as we give what’s already God’s to those to whom God directs us to give it.

And, for Paul, grace was the proof “that your love also is genuine” (8:8). There’s something authenticating about seeing grace in action. Unmerited generosity toward others is some of the fruit borne by those who have been re-wired for agape love by the renewing of the Spirit. “This act of grace” is the evidence of having entered into “the real thing” . . . as James says, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:15-17). Again, it goes beyond just opening our pocket books . . . sometimes it opening our hearts . . . speaking a word of comfort or encouragement to, or drawing alongside, those who have gotten themselves into a tough situation.

Finally, “this act of grace” is sourced in another act of grace . . .

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.    (2Corinthians 8:9 ESV)

To think of the King of glory becoming the Lamb of God. To pause for moment and reflect on the spotless Son of God becoming sin for us. To imagine the One who deserves our crowns cast before Him instead hanging on a tree, receiving the curse we deserved poured out upon Him. thank You Father that we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .

By His poverty I have become rich. How can I not then seek to imitate by Savior? How then, can I not be pre-disposed to giving freely . . . of whatever material wealth He has graced me with . . . of the time He has freely allotted to me . . . of the compassion and love He as wrought in my heart through the generous outpouring of His Spirit.

Oh, that I might be a participator in this act of grace . . . for the glory of God. Amen?