Do you know what it means to be around people who just drain the energy out of you? How about the kind of person who makes you laugh or encourages you? Now, which one do you prefer to spend time with if given a choice?

By definition, fellowship doesn’t happen when we are alone. We need each other and in order to fellowship together, there has to be some give and take.

Fellowship is sharing what you have in Christ.

We share our time. We share our talents and gifts. And we also share what we have in terms of material things.

Look at the example of the Macedonian Christians from 2 Corinthians 8:1-7. Consider Paul’s description of a people in a “severe test of affliction.” These people had little to offer, but they begged for the opportunity to share and be generous.

All of us know people who have more than we do, so it must be their responsibility to be generous, right? What if we followed the example of those in Macedonia? What if we gave out of our own need?

Paul encourages the Corinthians who already excelled in several areas – faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness – to also excel in the grace of being generous with their finances with others.

Let’s meditate on this verse today:

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:35