Look again at the title. Really? I don’t write this stuff – I just report it!

Beloved ones, we must tell you about the grace God poured out upon the churches of Macedonia. For even during a season of severe difficulty and tremendous suffering, they became even more filled with joy. From the depths of their extreme poverty, super-abundant joy overflowed into an act of extravagant generosity. For I can verify that they spontaneously gave, not only according to their means but far beyond what they could afford. They actually begged us for the privilege of sharing in this ministry of giving to God’s holy people who are living in poverty. (2 Corinthians 8.1 – 4, TPT)

Here are some simple observations:

• Following Jesus doesn’t exempt us from “severe difficulty, tremendous suffering, and extreme poverty.”
• Difficulties, suffering, and poverty do not have to impede joy!
• Extreme poverty + superabundant joy = extravagant generosity.

I’ve seen it both ways: joy in Haiti, misery in the U.S. Poor people who contribute to missions, wealthy people who don’t. Perhaps the secret is in the next verse:

They exceeded our expectations by first dedicating themselves fully to the Lord and then to us, according to God’s pleasure. (2 Corinthians 8.5, TPT, emphasis mine)