”Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.”  (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)

Due to an urgent benevolent need in Jerusalem, the churches were called upon to send relief to these destitute saints. In the verses above Paul seeks to motivate love in the Corinthians by pointing to the amazing generosity of the Macedonian Christians. 

Before considering the aspects of their generosity, please note at least two matters that could have hindered their benevolent spirit.  A heavy affliction was imposed on the Macedonian churches, chiefly through the jealousy of the Jews, who excited the hatred of the Gentiles. In addition to this persecution, the Macedonians were poor. The Holy Spirit tells us they were in deep poverty. These two factors mark the amazing spirit of these Macedonian Christians. 

Though afflicted and poor, they gave liberally. Their problem was not that they might give too little, but that they might give too much. Their affliction and poverty could not cramp their large hearts. The Macedonians were not pressed into giving by outward appeals. Their only pressure was a love from within. They gave voluntarily. They longed to help, and insisted on having a share in this good work. And by this grace, they reaped the rewards of the joy of giving.

The text also tells us these Christians had given themselves to the Lord. (Vs. 5).  This relationship with God was due to his grace that was given to them. Their sins were forgiven. The wrath of God had been replaced with everlasting favor. Guilt was gone. Hope was in their hearts.These thoughts had led to their spirit of generosity.

These thoughts led to an abundance of joy that became a fountain of love for other saints. Paul called it a love that was genuine. (Vs.8) It was a God exalting love that first found joy solely in a relationship with God, and led to meeting the needs of others.   

It has been said that true happiness requires love for people. Which is true to some extent. However, disciples must not seek to love in order to be happy, but seek to be happy in God in order to love.  There is a difference between the two.  The one who gives cheerfully is the one who is so full of joy in God that it overflows in their service to others.

Let us learn to have the spirit of the Macedonians. But it is more important for us to emulate the spirit of our Savior.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”  (2 Corinthians 8:9)

By George Slover

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
 
Ecclesiastes is full of wisdom that will help “life under the sun” to be more tolerable.  Life in this oppressive, competitive world is full of challenges and disappointments.  One soon realizes that it is not wise to try to make it through this journey alone.  Thus, Solomon bluntly states that one needs a companion, one that will give us perspective and objectivity.  Why are two better than one?  Consider three answers to the question.
 
First, a companion can offer encouragement when we are weak.  “For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:10)  This passage always reminds me of my days in the corps at Texas A&M when our First Sergeant was determined to “make us run until we dropped.”   On those occasions when a fellow classmate started to fall the rest of us would pick him up and carry him along.  What a valuable lesson!  I should never be shamed to refuse help when needed.  I must ever be diligent to consider the needs of my fellows!
 
Second, a companion can offer support when we are vulnerable.  “Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:11).  The thought here may represent more than a spouse keeping another warm on a wintry night.  It may represent anytime we are exposed and unguarded.  All are vulnerable, but “two are better than one”.
 
Third, a friend can provide protection when attacked.  “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) We all have a common adversary – the devil!  Our adversary may be one who has manufactured vicious rumors about us. But, there is power in the unity and support that we receive from friends.
 
There is no promise of tomorrow and exactly what it will bring, but chances are good that some of those days will be times of adversity.  The secret to your success is having good friends. 
 
by George Slover

"“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”" (Hebrews 12:11)
 
Bob Toledo, the head football coach at UCLA, once told his players: "“I make you do things you don’'t want to do so that you can become the players you want to be."”  That thought is so true in many phases of life.  The Olympic star, the successful businessman, the PHD, and the accomplished author all have one thing in common, namely hours of painful discipline.  They willingly submit to such so they can be the person they want to be.
 
God wants us live lives that honor Him in speech, action, and attitude. We must make it our desire to be the kind of person He wants us to be.  In order to arrive at the goal we must change some of those bad habits.  Change is difficult and requires hours of training and discipline.  God doesn't zap us with a magic potion that turns frogs into princes. Instead, he provides the tools necessary to achieve the task.
 
First, God provides a support group of Christians to allow for accountability.  “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)  Confessions don’'t come easy because of embarrassment, pride, and fear of how others will react, but it may be the only road to reaching the goal. 
 
Second, he asks us to exercise daily self-discipline and radical surgery to rid ourselves of those bad habits.  "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- "where 'their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched." “(Mark 9:43-44)  Such a challenge will tax the very heart and soul of an individual, but is necessary to have the victory.
 
Third, God allows us to be subject to trials and difficulties of this world.  The loss of a family member, economic loss, or sudden loss of health can either make us or break us. There may be occasions when we don’'t feel like persevering, but we must!  God allows us to be tried so that He can sharpen our character and strengthen our faith!
 
Who do you really want to be?  God has a wonderful plan for you.  He loves you enough to provide all that is necessary to succeed.  Accept the challenge and one day you will reap the rewards.
 
by George Slover

 

Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart." (Ecclesiastes 7:2)
 
According to Solomon’s wisdom, times of laughter do not teach the valuable lessons like times of mourning.  Are we really convinced of that?  Our current generation is almost intoxicated with laughter.  Many are deluded into thinking that genuine happiness is found in being having fun all of the time.  Solomon says to the contrary!  Joyful living comes from the valuable lessons learned at the house of mourning and pain and affliction.
 
Malcom Muggeridge wrote about affliction in his book A Twentieth Century Testimony: "“Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed desolating and painful with particular satisfaction.  Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my seventy-five years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness, whether pursued or attained.  In other words, if it ever were possible to eliminate affliction from our earthly existence by means of some drug or other medical mumbo jumbo, as Aldous Huxley envisaged in Brave New World, the result would not be to make life delectable, but to make it too banal and trivial to be endurable.  This, of course, is what the Cross signifies.  And it is the Cross, more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ”."
 
In times of sorrow we learn of the brevity of life and the reality of death.  In affliction we learn to long for the better life beyond.  In pain we experience what the Lord endured for our sins. And we should see how terrible is sin in the eyes of God.
 
It’s ok to laugh.  It is better to weep and to reap the eternal rewards!
 
By George Slover

The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD." “ (Proverbs 29:25-26)
 
During my Freshman year at Texas A&M I learned a valuable lesson.  It seems that our class had stolen our Commanding Officer’'s footlocker.  After several weeks of hazing, we finally decided to give it back to him.  A specific evening and place were designated for returning our prize to our Senior commander.  On that evening we all met in the country with the footlocker full of ice and beer.  To celebrate our truce our C.O. proposed a toast.  He demanded that all of us would have a beer in our hands to be a part of this toast.  I timidly held that beer can in my hand, but never took a sip.  When it was convenient I poured the beer on the ground.  Hypocritically, I had given in to peer pressure.
 
Jesus, our savior, was the perfect example of the kind of life we are to live. When the critics observed his life they rightly state:"“Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth."”(Mark 12:14)  Jesus was not intimidated by the critics nor swayed by public opinion.
 
Joshua and Caleb refused to ride the tide of popular opinion.  They would not listen to the ten other spies or to the complaints of Israel.  Against the majority view they stated:  "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30)  These two faithful spies were the only ones allowed to enter Canaan.
 
The child of God is to live for an audience of one.  God alone is our judge.  All things are to be measured by His standards!  He alone is to direct our life and we are to seek his approval.
 
By George Slover