Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. – 2 Corinthians 8:1-6

There’s a giving grace that can come upon you by revelation. Once you receive the revelation, you begin moving from one level to another. You don’t move in yourself or in your own strength or wisdom; you go from level to level by grace. You may desire to give because it’s the right thing to do, but you need an additive. You need the grace of God to enable you to do some things as if you’re “out of your mind!”

What do I mean by “out of your mind?” It’s like having a need yourself but then sowing a seed in the midst of that need. The world’s way of thinking says, “You must be out of your mind. You have a need. You’d better hold on to that until you’re in better shape financially.”

Verses 2 and 3 in the passage above say, “How that IN A GREAT TRIAL OF AFFLICTION the abundance of their joy and THEIR DEEP POVERTY ABOUNDED UNTO THE RICHES OF THEIR LIBERALITY.  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and BEYOND THEIR POWER THEY WERE WILLING of themselves.”

This is what grace will do for you. In fact, only grace can do this for you. This verse will drive a natural man crazy. When people who are in a great trial of poverty can give generously with abundance of joy, it simply doesn’t add up in the eyes of someone who is leaning to his own understanding!