2 Corinthians 8:3-5

2 Corinthians 8:3-5

[3] For  to  their power,  I bear record,  yea, and  their power  they were willing of themselves;  [4] Praying  with  much  intreaty  the gift,  and  take upon us the fellowship  of the ministering  to  the saints.  [5] And  this they did, not  as  we hoped,  but  first  gave  their own selves  to the Lord,  and  by  the will  of God. 

What does 2 Corinthians 8:3-5 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Three characteristics marked the giving of these Macedonian brethren.
First, they gave sacrificially, beyond their ability ( 2 Corinthians 8:3 a). They gave more generously than their limited means and their difficult circumstances might have warranted.
"The meaning of this paradox is that, because of their extreme poverty, the amount collected by them was not huge in quantity; a man possessing only ten pounds cannot be expected to contribute a hundred pounds, for ten pounds is the absolute limit of his ability. In this sense, the Macedonians had given "according to their ability". But the proportion of his goods which a person gives is generally determined by a twofold consideration: (i) a reckoning of the basic necessities for his own immediate existence, and (ii) prudence in setting aside at least something as a measure of security against future needs and emergencies. Such circumspection is justifiable and reasonable. The Macedonians, however, poor though they were, had shown a complete disregard of their own requirements, both present and future. It is in this sense that, impelled by love and compassion for brethren in Christ whom they had never seen, they had given "contrary to their ability". And this was a noteworthy token of their refusal to take anxious thought for the morrow because of their confident dependence on God, who as the Heavenly Father, knows His children"s needs even before they ask Him and will not fail to supply those needs from the boundless storehouse of His grace ( 2 Corinthians 12:9; Matthew 6:8; Matthew 6:25 ff.; Philippians 4:19)." [1]
Second, they gave on their own initiative, before receiving any suggestion or pressure from others that they should give ( 2 Corinthians 8:3-4). They wanted to extend "gracious fellowship" (Gr. koinonia) to the poorer saints. This is a better translation of the Greek hendiadys rendered "the favor of participation" in the NASB. Hendiadys is a figure of speech in which the writer expresses a single complex idea by joining two substantives with "and" rather than by using an adjective and a substantive. Having received grace from God ( 2 Corinthians 8:9) as needy sinners, they desired to extend grace to their needy brethren by sending them material assistance. Evidently Paul had not pressed the Macedonians to contribute in view of their economic condition since they begged him for that privilege.
Third, they gave as a part of their larger personal dedication primarily to the Lord but also to Paul for any service he might request of them ( 2 Corinthians 8:5). When people give themselves totally to the Lord and to His servants, their hearts are already open toward others in need. Meeting the needs of others is really service for Christ ( Matthew 22:39).