Joy that works

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. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. – 2 Corinthians 8.1-4

Paul now moves on to some practical lessons that the church needs to hear.

He starts with an issue that is probably not the thing a whole lot of folks like to hear about. It seems like an awful like of folks cringe at the prospect of hearing about giving.

Here Paul addresses the Macedonian beleivers. They were in deep trials and affliction. I’m not sure what the problem was, but things were tough. They though had learned Paul’s lesson of joy in trials.

Their joy was real joy because their joy worked. It wasn’t just a forced ‘well, praise the Lord anyway.’ True joy, that kind of joy that produces giving in real and from the heart. The joy of the Lord is the strength in our hearts to give to others and not think about ourselves.

How does the joy of the Lord look in our lives? Does it produce the fruit of giving because we find so much joy in obeying God?