The grace that gives
by Tim Castle-Schmidt
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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1–9
Paul describes something wonderfully strange: churches in severe trial and extreme poverty overflowing in joy and rich generosity. That is not normal accounting. Poverty plus hardship should equal anxiety, self-protection and closed hands. But grace has changed the maths.
The Macedonian Christians do not give because Paul twists their arm. They plead for the privilege of sharing. Their generosity is not a fundraising strategy or a guilt campaign. It is the generous pouring out of people who know Christ has given himself for them. They know they belong to Christ, and that changes what their money is for.
Then Paul brings everything back to Jesus: ‘Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ That is the heart of Christian giving. Christ does not donate from a safe distance. He gives himself. He enters our poverty, carries our sin, bears our death and gives us the riches of forgiveness, life and fellowship with God.
Once that gets under our skin, generosity becomes less about ‘How much do I have to give?’ and more about ‘What has Christ made possible here?’ Sometimes love gives money. Sometimes time. Sometimes attention. Sometimes hospitality. Sometimes practical help that nobody else notices. But it all begins in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Vindicated by Christ, God’s people are freed and formed to love. Freed from clutching our lives in fear. Formed by the generous poverty of Jesus. Sent to give in ways that are cheerful, honest and human. Not to buy grace, but because grace has already made us rich.
Generous Lord Jesus, you became poor to make us rich in grace. Loosen our grip on fear, and make our giving cheerful, truthful and loving. Amen.
By his own admission, Tim Castle-Schmidt is a broken man. Broken in body, mind and spirit, he says he is learning that God is at work in and through human brokenness. He says that while God has not ‘fixed’ him, God continues to work through his brokenness to connect with the world. Tim is the pastor of Nunawading–Waverley Lutheran Church in Melbourne. After spending many years as a teacher in Lutheran schools, he finally listened to God’s call to the pastoral ministry. Tim is passionate about social justice and engaging the church with contemporary society. Tim shares his life with Fiona, Miranda, and a Jack Russell called Otto.
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