This chapter is centered on giving: giving to God's people who are in need.
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 Corinthians 8:1
It is interesting that Paul tells about the acts of another church to encourage and spur them into righteous action.
Often we think that it should not be known about giving - not let our left hand know whay our right hand is doing. But when Jesus said that in Matt 6, his point had to do with motivation in giving. He was saying that we should not give in order to be seen. In Mark 12:41 Jesus internationally was watching what people were giving and focuses on the giving of a widow.
So clearly the act of seeing and knowing about giving is not a problem. We just need to give for the right reason.
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
2 Corinthians 8:8
God and Paul don't command giving but they do request and encourage it. As Paul says, it tests and demonstrates the sincerity of our love. Clearly giving cam be done with a wrong motive. On the other hand if we are not willing to give it demonstrates our lack of love since we ate not willing to put the interests of others above our own.
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
Jesus is the example of love demonstrated by sacrificial giving.
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:12
The amount we give is not the issue. If we have much then we can give much, if little then little.
Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
2 Corinthians 8:24 NIV
Again we clearly see that it is not wrong to see what is being given.
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