The true secret of giving must begin with a whole-hearted surrender to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 8:5). [The Corinthian’s] giving sprang from entire consecration and this must ever be the fountain of our liberality. You remember the three things, which the Corinthian Church lacked were love, unity, and personal holiness.
They were not lacking in wealth. It was a rich intellectual church. Paul appeals to them to follow the example of Jesus Christ, in this grace of giving (v. 9). John 3:16 says, “God so loved . . . that He gave. Paul asked the Corinthian Church for a “proof†of their love (v. 24). [It was a] manner of giving, which is pleasing to the Lord. “God loveth a cheerful giver†(v. 7-8).
(Taken from the class notes of Evelyn Forrest. These are the notes she used for her classes at TFC.)