We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ESVUK

“If I and a need meet, God must have had in mind my filling it.” Jack Hyles

In writing to the Corinthians, Paul wanted to ensure that by the time he arrived in their city, they would have set aside the full amount of money that they were going to give the impoverished Jerusalem church (see 1 Cor.16:1-4). Surely the example of the Macedonian churches would spur them on? These believers had done something remarkable. They were terribly poor, and had suffered great persecution. Indeed, these two things may have gone together, as the persecution might have entailed loss of jobs and income for some of them. Yet in spite of their dire circumstances, they had given with almost reckless abandon For Paul, it was a work of ”grace”. It was nothing less than God at work in their hearts.

I heard Jim Graham preaching on this passage some years ago, and I remember him saying that in the contemporary church we don’t lack resources, but we do lack joy!