Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: (II Cor. 8:1)
The word “bestowed” includes the idea of profuse and lavish giving. Most often, the word “grace” is applied to individuals, but here it is applied to churches. Another definition of grace that I have heard is “the desire and power to do God’s will”. (Phil. 2:13; II Cor. 9:8) This is clearly what was happening to these churches. They had received God’s grace in their own lives. Then in turn this grace was manifested through them by the way they sacrificially gave to meet the needs of others. Note how they gave:
. . . that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (II Cor. 8:2-5)
This almost seems like a contradiction – being in a great trial of affliction and deep poverty, yet having abundant joy and riches of liberality. This is the grace of God! How else could this happen? This was beyond their ability. Sinful man can not achieve such an outcome from the heart.
Besides the material gifts they provided for those suffering believers in Jerusalem, they gave not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (II Cor. 8:5)
Over the last 50 years, many had been privileged to see the grace of God bestowed on those in Berean Bible Church in Dublin, OH. Likewise, many have seen His grace manifested through those at Rockwall Bible Church. May this continue for God’s glory and for a testimony to a lost and dying world.