In chapters 8-9, Paul discusses the collection he was taking up for God’s people in Jerusalem, who were suffering due to famine and poverty. Paul had seen the evidence of God’s grace in the Macedonian churches. Their offering of themselves to God and his people exceeded Paul’s expectations. Now Paul hoped to see the same evidence of the grace of God in the Corinthian church. Paul observed that they were excellent in every way, and encouraged them to also excel in the grace of giving. Paul hoped that all the Gentile churches might testify to God’s grace through their generosity.

Paul was not commanding the church in Corinth to give. He wanted them to offer freely, as the other Gentile churches did. Offering should not be based on compulsion, but on grace. Paul reminded the Corinthians of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was God, Jesus came to this earth as a servant and died for our sins. His grace is our source of life. We can practice the grace of giving when we first deeply accept his grace for us.
Application: Lord, thank you for the truth of grace. Thank you for your saving grace revealed in the gospel of Jesus. Help me to offer myself and excel each day in the grace of giving.
One Word: Remember the grace of Jesus