The objective of this lesson: To stress the fact that benevolence always has been a way that people who belong to God declare the importance of other people.

A problem that plagued Paul's evangelistic work among the gentiles was the Jewish and Jewish Christians' attitude toward gentiles (see Acts 15:1, 2 and the book of Galatians to see the problem and its significance). One effort Paul used in an attempt to solve the problem was centered in gathering and taking a contribution from gentile Christians to struggling Jews in Jerusalem. Today's text focuses on poor gentile Christians in Macedonia who wanted to participate in Paul's effort.

Remember that the word "gentile" referred to any person who was not Jewish or any nation that was not Israel.

Jews had no objection to gentiles going through the process of indoctrination that resulted in their becoming a part of Judaism (Matthew 23:15; Acts 2:10). They objected to making God's grace too cheap. To them, baptism based on faith in Jesus Christ and repentance was too little to require of gentiles if converted gentiles were to be recognized as God's people as fully as was an Israelite who had been circumcised.

Paul was convinced that a demonstration of gentile Christian caring for needy Jews would soften that attitude.

First, note what these poor Christians did. Though their economic condition was so horrible that they should receive help rather than give help, they insisted on being included in sending a gift to the Jews. Paul described their economic condition as "a great ordeal of affliction" and "deep poverty." Yet, in this horrible economic condition, these Christians gave "in abundance" and in "the wealth of their liberality." Paul described what they did as an "overflowing." He said these Christians gave out of their ability to give and desire to give.

Stress the fact that these gentile congregations were in severe economic distress. Paul did not consider them potential contributors. These congregations gave because their motivation to give was powerful.

The obvious question to be asked is, "Why?" The answer to that question has two parts. (1) They identified with the struggles of others regardless of who they were. Their attitude had much in common with the attitude of the Samaritan in Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan. To these Christians, the issue was not, "Would they do this for me?" The issue was, "They are in need, and we can help." (2) They genuinely belonged to Jesus Christ. Because they gave themselves to the Lord, they were convinced this gift was God's will. They were so convinced they should be involved in this effort, they begged Paul to allow them to participate. They did not beg Paul to accept their gift once, but they kept on begging Paul to accept their gift.

Stress both aspects of these poor Christians' motivation. Emphasize their insistence that Paul accept their gift.

Second, note Paul's reaction. Because the Macedonian Christians were in such severe poverty, Paul had not expected anything from them. These poor Christians gave so generously that Paul hesitated to accept their gift! In fact, they gave so generously that Paul used their generosity as an illustration to encourage other gentile congregations to give!

Talk about Paul's hesitation to accept their gift. Talk about how unusual that would be today.

Paul did not command people to give. He simply reminded them of how much God gave to them. Jesus Christ [not things of monetary value] was God's gift to them [and us!]. Jesus Christ willingly became poor so that Christians might be rich! God did not intend to do something! He did it! Jesus did not intend to do something! He did it! Gentile congregations should not intend to do something! They should do it! Just as God and Jesus followed through, gentile congregations should follow through.

Discuss the fact that Paul did not command the benevolence but encouraged the benevolence. Note the means of Paul providing that encouragement. Good intentions are excellent, but follow-through is essential.

More was involved than Paul fulfilling his goal or dream. More was involved than acquiring materially.

Third, note the Christian principles involved. (1) God only asks Christians to do what they can. The issue is not "what we would do if we were rich," but it is "what will we do with what we have?" Our self-centered considerations do not determine "what we can do." God's knowledge of our ability determines "what we can do." If we have an attitude of readiness, we will respond to a need. (2) There is no injustice at work if we have less so people with needs can have more. Paul referred to this as the principle of equality. Christians look at people, not things. People are always more valuable than things, even when we discuss "my" things. With the manna God gave Israel in Exodus 16:18, the industrious did not profit. The feeble did not suffer. Everyone had enough--a day's supply. Thus those who were able to gather more than a day's supply shared what they gathered. Those who could not gather a day's supply accepted the gift. [It is challenging both to give and accept!] A commitment to sharing and equality always has been the principle guiding people belonging to God. [Have you read Deuteronomy 15:1-11, Acts 2:44, or Acts 4:36, 37 lately? Also note Acts 5:1-11.]

The principle of limitation is acceptable to us Americans. We understand the importance of doing what you can, and have little difficulty with that concept. The principle of equality is much more difficult for us to grasp. Grasping that principle depends on our view of material things [they are temporary, not eternal] and our view of what constitutes being lazy. Perhaps you can discuss why this gives American Christians so much difficulty. Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 and note that the principle then was not used as an excuse for irresponsibility.

Again, we return to the same question: Why? These principles can sound anti-American, anti-capitalism, and anti-profit. The point is not that it is unspiritual for a Christian to have. Paul noted there were prosperous people who were Christians in 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

Note that the point is not centered in how much one has, but how the Christian uses what he/she has. In this society, materialism assaults spirituality in significant ways.

Why? Christians are changed by being influenced by God and Jesus' example. He or she who belongs to God learns to see people as God sees them. Just as God responded to our need, we respond to the needs of others. Read Matthew 5:43-48. Those who belong to God want to be like God. God is their standard. His actions form their principles.

The perpetual issue that challenges Christians in the American society seems to be this: should Christians [on every level!] pursue the good life or God's example? The second challenge is this: can Christians combine both pursuits without affecting their spiritual commitment? It is very difficult to look upon the material as temporary!

God's people are a benevolent people because God is a benevolent God. Consider Leviticus 19:9, 10. Not harvest to the corners of your field? Not collect fallen fruit? In an agricultural society that had no canning or freezing, that made no sense! (If you consider that extreme, read Deuteronomy 24:19-22.)

It is easy to ignore God's benevolence in the Old Testament and see only His wrath. Rarely do Christians of today comprehend how wicked and corrupt people were in the ancient world. Often they were so wicked they alienated themselves completely from God and understood only the terror of consequences. Christians today must function on much higher motives than consequences!

Knowledge of God has always altered people's view of others. Note in God's benevolent instruction how often He focused on the widows, the orphans, and the alien among them [the gentile]. God commonly focused on the plight of the helpless.

Why do that? "Because I am the Lord your God" (see Leviticus 23:22). Much more is involved in that statement than "I am God, and I am in control. Respect my authority!" Israel was His people and He delivered them from Egypt and its slavery. A basic motivation was this: If Israel understood who they were and where they came from, they wanted to be like their God.

Their response to God depended on (a) their awareness of God's contribution to who they were and (b) their remembering where they came from. It is amazing to note how frequently God prefaced a commandment to Israel with some form of a reminder that He brought them out of slavery. If we are Christians, He brought us out of slavery to sin.

This principle of sharing is not new. It always was (is) characteristic of people who belong to God. Modern application: We evangelize because God evangelizes. Christians seek to share much more with people than the material. When we understand who we are and where we came from, we want to share our God.

If we analyze carefully who we are and what we do, it is amazing to note how much is based on God's character--from mercy to forgiveness to benevolence to evangelism.

If people are important to God, people must be important to those who belong to God.

We understand it is right to be concerned about people because it is important to God.

For Thought and Discussion

1. What problem plagued Paul's evangelistic work among the gentiles?

   The problem that plagued Paul: the Jewish attitude toward gentiles.

2. What was one effort Paul used in an attempt to solve that problem?

   Paul was convinced that a gentile Christian gift to struggling Jews in Jerusalem would soften Jewish attitudes.

3. Describe the economic condition of the Macedonian congregations.

   The discussion should include the words "a great ordeal of affliction," "deep poverty," "abundance," "the wealth of their liberality," and "overflowing."

4. What two things must be understood to understand the desire of these Christians?
   1. They identified with the struggles of others.

   2. They genuinely belonged to Jesus Christ.

5. Discuss Paul's reaction to the generosity of these Macedonian Christians.

   This discussion should include that (a) Paul did not expect them to contribute and (b) Paul used them as an illustration.

6. Instead of commanding Christians to be benevolent, what did he do?

   Paul encouraged them to remember what Jesus Christ did for them. Jesus Christ was God's gift to them!

7. Read and discuss Deuteronomy 15:1-11; Acts 2:44; and Acts 4:36, 37.

   The discussion should include this fact: people who belonged to God [in every age] shared.

8. Read Matthew 5:43-48 and discuss the motivation of people who belong to God.

   They wanted to be sons of their Father [they wanted to be an active part of God's family].

9. Read Leviticus 19:9, 10 and Deuteronomy 24:19-22 and discuss this fact: Helping those in need is not a new principle.

   Even as Israel came into being, God was concerned about those in need.

10. Discuss the meaning of "I am the Lord your God."

    More was involved than recognizing God's authority. Israel [just as we!] understood they existed because of what God did for them.

11. Fill in the blanks: "If people are important to God, _________ must be important to _______ who belong to God."

    The blanks should be filled with "people" and "those."

Link to Student Guide Lesson 8

Copyright © 2007
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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