And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
“If there was ever a place in Scripture where the ethics of the kingdom of God were shown in their most radical form, it was here. What strange combinations we confront: severe trial and overflowing joy, extreme poverty and rich generosity, and a sense of pleading to be allowed the privilege of giving…In Paul’s account of the collection from the Macedonian church, he includes a most important point concerning due process. He tells us that even to his own surprise, these people gave themselves first to the Lord and then to the task of joyful giving. This, according to Paul, is the will of God. It is the right process for His people and the reason for their ability to give richly out of their extreme poverty.”
R. Scott Rodin in Stewards in the Kingdom: A Theology of Life in All Its Fullness(Downers Grove: IVP, 2000) 211.
I cite this excerpt from Rodin’s classic work, Stewards in the Kingdom for four reasons today. Firstly, I love his expression, “strange combinations,” to refer to the generous lifestyle of the poor Macedonian Christians. Our generosity should NOT look normal to the world but should look different, even otherworldly. If we appear to conform to worldly norms then we are almost certainly not exhibiting Christian generosity.
Secondly, Rodin has taught at Asian Theological Seminary in Quezon City, just outside of Manila, where I find myself this week. As my co-author of the book, The Sower: Redefining the Ministry of Raising Kingdom Resources, Scott paved the way for bringing such “strange” Christian thinking here in service to passionate professors like Zenet Maramara and others before my time, and I am grateful.
Thirdly, the Filipino Christians remind me of the Macedonian Christians. Largely speaking, they appear to exhibit the “strange combinations” that Paul refers to in this text, such as extreme poverty and rich generosity. Once you see these combinations in action, you never forget it. It makes a deep imprint on your mind and heart, such that you can’t help but want to follow their example.
Fourthly, I must conclude with a question (and I will ask lots of questions in my teaching this week with my students pictured above): Will you exhibit these strange combinations? The best part of the question is the text explicitly supplies the answer. God’s will for you (and every follower of Christ) is to give yourself to God and the rich, otherworldly generosity will follow after that, because it’s not the fruit of your work but His work in your life.