<p>8:3 <i>For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord</i>- The idea of<i> kata </i>their <i>dunamis</i> occurs in the parable of the talents, which are given to believers on conversion (Mt. 25:11 AV &quot;according to his several ability&quot;). That this refers to the gift of the Spirit in the hearts of believers after baptism is confirmed by <i>kata dunamis</i> being used in exactly this context in Ephesians. The Spirit is given according to God's power (Eph. 1:17,19). We are strengthened according to God's power in the Spirit within the &quot;inner man&quot; (a point made three times, each time using <i>kata dunamis</i>- Eph. 3:7,16,20, repeated in Col. 1:11,29). The Macedonians had been given the <i>charis</i>, the gift of the Spirit; and according to that gift, they in turn were giving. The Spirit therefore influenced them and confirmed them in their generosity; it worked within the &quot;inner man&quot;. For that is where decisions relating to generosity are taken. But <i>beyond</i> the psychological power inspired by the Spirit, the Macedonians donated even more. And that is quite something. This makes the best sense of what is otherwise an awkward verse: &quot;For <i>kata </i>their power <i>dunamis</i><i>,</i> I bear record, and <i>huper</i> their power <i>dunamis</i><i>, </i>they were willing of themselves&quot; (AV). This last phrase which is the literal translation of the Greek finally makes sense- once we realize that they gave according to the power and will of the Spirit within them, but they of themselves, beyond the influence of the Spirit, donated even more. Paul's persistent concern is that the Corinthians had been given the Spirit, but were not spiritual (1 Cor. 3:1). He seems to blame their lack of donations as related to the same essential problem.</p><p>We can give on some kind of proportionate level to what we have. Or we can give <i>more than we can afford</i>; the kind of giving the Philippians are commended for (and no, Paul didn't scold them for being irresponsible): &quot;In their deep poverty... to their power... yea, and <i>beyond their power</i>&quot; (2 Cor. 8:2). The basic message of so many of the parables is that our generosity to the Lord&rsquo;s cause should be offered without a calculated weighing up process first of all, and with a recognition that such giving may be contrary to all human wisdom. Thus the rich man sells <i>all he has</i> and buys a pearl- he&rsquo;s left with nothing, just this useless ornament. He doesn&rsquo;t sell what he has spare, his over-and-above... <i>all he had</i> went on that pearl, for the sheer joy and surpassing, all-demanding excellence thereof. His wife, colleagues, employees- would have counted him crazy. He acted against all the conventions of human wisdom. Likewise the shepherd leaves 99% of his flock unguarded and goes chasing madly after the one weak, straying one. This was crazy, humanly; one per cent loss wasn&rsquo;t unreasonable. But he risked all, for love of the one. And in this He set us a pattern for forsaking all we have.</p>