捐献与感恩
哥林多后书八章1至9节
1弟兄们，我把神赐给马其顿众教会的恩告诉你们，
2就是他们在患难中受大试炼的时候，仍有满足的快乐，在极穷之间还格外显出他们乐捐的厚恩。
3我可以证明，他们是按着力量，而且也过了力量，自己甘心乐意的捐助，
4再三的求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的恩情上有分；
5并且他们所做的，不但照我们所想望的，更照神的旨意先把自己献给主，又归附了我们。
6因此我劝提多，既然在你们中间开办这慈惠的事，就当办成了。
7你们既然在信心、口才、知识、热心，和待我们的爱心上，都格外显出满足来，就当在这慈惠的事上也格外显出满足来。
8我说这话，不是吩咐你们，乃是借着别人的热心试验你们爱心的实在。
9你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典：他本来富足，却为你们成了贫穷，叫你们因他的贫穷，可以成为富足。
信息分享
保罗谈及捐献的动机，因为我们很容易会有错误的动机。很多时候我们捐献，是为了讨神的喜悦，甚至是为了赢得好的名声。
但保罗在此强调，真正的捐献是对神恩典的回应。他以马其顿的教会为例：他们没有考虑到自己的力量微薄，反而深深体会神为他们所作的一切，全是丰盛的恩典，所以他们甘愿按着所得的恩作出回应。
他们被神的恩典深深感动。因此，他们尽管贫穷，却仍然苦苦恳求保罗容让他们作出损献！这不就是真诚的感恩吗？
此外，他们的爱人之心，也可证明他们爱神。爱意味着付出。爱永不会说：「我是否付出得太多？」而会说：「我如何才能完全甘心乐意地付出？」正如有人说过：「只要有爱，就会付出。」
保罗向哥林多信徒指出：「马其顿的信徒乐意捐献，因为他们深深体会到神的恩典。他们愿意以真诚的爱来向神作出回应，以致他们毫不计较地去关心别人。」这是何等宝贵的捐献！
我们捐献的时候，绝不应只为了履行责任，更应该是出乎内心的感动。当我们深深体验到自己领受了神丰富的恩典，深深领会到神对自己的爱，我们才会出于对神的爱而作出捐献。这种捐献不单能够荣耀神，捐献的人也会满心喜乐呢！
GIVING AND THANKSGIVING
2 Corinthians 8:1-9
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Message
Paul wrote concerning motives in giving. We can easily have wrong motives. We can give to win favour with God. We can think it will give us a great reputation for our generosity.
But Paul emphasised that true giving is the result of being touched by the grace of God. He used the churches in Macedonia as an example. Instead of thinking how little they could give, they recognised all that God had done for them and gave accordingly.
They were so overwhelmed by the grace of God that, in spite of deep poverty, they begged to be allowed to give! That is true 'thanksgiving', isn't that?
Their love for God was also seen in their love for others. Loving means giving, doesn't it? Love never asks 'how much or how little can I give', but love says 'how can I give as much as I would like to give'. As someone has said -'while love lives, love gives.'
Paul was saying, 'the Macedonian Christians gave because they had been touched by the grace of God and their love for him was genuine. This produced in them a magnificent concern for other people.' What a wonderful tribute if our giving is more than a duty.
It should be more than our answer to a strong emotional appeal. It should come out of our love for God and recognition of His goodness to us. That kind of giving brings glory to God and joy to the giver. Try it.