哥林多後書8:1-7

8:1 弟兄們，我把上帝賜給馬其頓眾教會的恩告訴你們，
8:2 就是他們在患難中受大試煉的時候，仍有滿足的快樂，在極窮之間還格外顯出他們樂捐的厚恩。
8:3 我可以證明，他們是按著力量，而且也過了力量，自己甘心樂意地捐助，
8:4 再三地求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的恩情上有分；
8:5 並且他們所做的，不但照我們所想望的，更照上帝的旨意先把自己獻給主，又歸附了我們。
8:6 因此我勸提多，既然在你們中間開辦這慈惠的事，就當辦成了。
8:7 你們既然在信心、口才、知識、熱心，和待我們的愛心上，都格外顯出滿足來，就當在這慈惠的事上也格外顯出滿足來。

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. ⁵ And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. ⁶ So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷ But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

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    保羅說到馬其頓的教會的表現讓他得著安慰，因為從他們的表現看見上帝的恩惠：「就是他們在患難中受大試煉的時候，仍有滿足的快樂，在極窮之間還格外顯出他們樂捐的厚恩。」

    這是很不容易的，尤其是馬其頓的教會不是很富足，也不是很平順，他們仍然要面對現實環境給他們極大的考驗。但是他們不管這些，他們仍然很慷慨的奉獻，這實在是不容易！

    很多人都希望從上帝得很多，卻不願意將自己從上帝所得的與人分享，甚至連當奉獻的十分之一都不願意！這都可以看出，生命尚未成熟，必須為這樣的人禱告，讓他們感受到上帝的恩典是大過金錢的，讓他們知道唯有上帝才是真正可靠，不要把金錢抓得死死的，要學習放下金錢來倚靠上帝！