2 Corinthiansნიმუში

In verses 6-8, Paul uses the Greek word Charisto to expand on what true grace really means:

• The ability to give and the heart to give are gifts from God. Giving is a work of God’s grace in us.
• Our giving should be like God’s giving of grace to us: giving freely, and generously, because we want to give.
• Our giving, like God’s grace to us, should be offered without expectation of payment in return.

Paul makes an important point, that we can use giving as a measure of the sincerity of our love. (See 1 John 3:17-18 and Matthew 6:21).

In v9, he uses Jesus as our ultimate example of giving. "You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich".

Because of Jesus’ poverty and all that was related to it, we can become rich. We have a share in Jesus’ eternal, heavenly wealth because He came and had a share in our poverty.

In response to the gift Jesus gave us, how can we individually, and as the Church live generous lifestyles?