Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. Paul is describing the Macedonian churches, impoverished and troubled, yet giving generously. Not because they had extra. Because their joy overflowed.
I work with missionaries in developing countries, and I see this constantly. People with almost nothing giving with joy. People with abundance giving reluctantly. The difference isn't resources. It's overflow. The Macedonians had so much joy that it expressed itself in generosity despite poverty. We have so little joy that abundance can't generate generosity.
This has indicted my own life. I have resources the Macedonians could never imagine. Yet I give reluctantly. Why? Because my joy is thin. I'm afraid of scarcity. I'm holding on. I'm not experiencing the abundance of life in Christ that would naturally overflow into generosity. The Macedonians show me what's possible: poverty with such deep joy that it becomes generosity. That's the real measure of wealth.
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