Summary: Vs 1-7 Paul starts off by using Macedonia as an example, although they were not in the best position? They still gave freely n willingly. So now he implores other saints to have this same heart to give to help other saints out. We first give ourselves to God and from then, he turns our hearts to serve His people. He then mentions Titus, saying they encouraged him to continue working with them encouraging them to have this heart of giving- ministering to other saints. Then 7 ends with, as they excel in all the other gifts, to also excel with heart to give (generous hearts) 8-12 he continues to remind them that it’s not a commandment, but it’s a fruit (evidence of changed hearts). He describes Christ character, how he put others before Himself and their needs first. His heart of service. Emptying Himself- His riches and giving to us. He then encourages them to finish their project (probs of giving). Encouraging to give (not set prices cz everyone has different capacities) but to give what they can, from their hearts, and it’ll be accepted. 13-15 He then says he doesn’t mean that they should give all they have and be left with nothing (kubanyunyuza) but he’s encouraging equality, like to send relief in the saints in Jerusalem’s time of need and vide versa. 15 says he who gathers much has nothing left over (hoarding/ubusambo) but he gathers little (not getting everything to themselves but leaving some for others) had no lack. - Luke 12:16-21 like this foolish man who hoarded it all and ended up with nothing in the end, God blesses us so we can bless others, everything in nature tells us this msg, all there to serve, trees, to give us fruits n oxygen, none of what it does is for it, sun, for us, cows- our milk, bees- our honey. - the tree gives oxygen n gets back cO2- it benefits. And the nature shows that by giving, they benefit back n receive what they need.- it’s more blessed to give than receive- we benefit more by having this selfless character. God never designed for anything to be about self, He designed everything to be selfless, all there for the benefit of others. so He’s encouraging this slow it of giving. And when we give we’re giving to God, and He says He will pay us back, He says TEST me n see if I won’t open up the floodgates of heaven. Do ur part in giving and see that I won’t bless u with abundance (so u can give more) - the widow who made food for Elijah using the last flour- by giving God multiplied giving her much more than she needed. If she had not been generous, she woulda had her last meal n just died, like the fool in like. God says test me. 16-24 he gives thanks for Titus, his genuine care for them and voluntary service. 18 Titus being sent to them with another brother (with same spirit/mind) to assist in handling the gift, and avoid any misunderstands around that - like someone raising concern in lavishing the gifts. “Titus wants to help you just as much as we do. We thank God that he has made Titus ready to do that. He was very happy when we asked him to come to you. He himself already wanted to help you. So he really decided to visit you for himself. We are sending another man with Titus. He is also a believer. The Christians in all the other churches praise this man. They say that he works hard to tell people the good news about Christ. Those Christians in the other churches have also chosen this man to travel with us. They want him to help us when we take this gift. Our work will show that the Lord is great. It will also show that we are ready to help. We want to be very careful about this large gift of money. That is why the other believer will come with us. We do not want anyone to say that we have done something wrong. Our purpose is to do only what is right. We want the Lord to see that. We want people to see it as well.” 2 Corinthians 8:16-21 EASY 22-24 is basically saying, the individuals being sent are trusted, treat them with love and respect as we’ve told them you would.