RE Verse reading–1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:6-15 (day two) “I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also” (8:8) None of us are forced to be generous. God loves “cheerful givers” (9:7) and therefore makes us free to give or not as a matter of personal choice. We are not free, however, from the moral conclusions that may be drawn (must be) from our choices in this aspect of life. Paul refers to “the earnestness of others”, the examples of generous, sacrificial service (Macedonia is only one) that are an undeniable part of the story of the church. These examples, he claims, either confirm us as part of the family of faith or convict us as insincere pretenders. To love Christ requires that we love others in sacrificial and generous ways. The standard has been set! Others have been generous! Their lives are the true test of sincere faith.
