II Corinthians 8: 1- 9: 15
These two chapters
discuss and lay out the whole doctrine (what we believe) about the whole
idea of giving. The foundation under the principle of giving, the
reason why we would want to give, the policies to follow in our giving, and the rewards we can expect as a result of our generosity.
This is all explained in these 39 verses.
This is a lot of ground to cover, so I am breaking it up into its components over several days.
Today we will look at some of the policies we are to follow:
8:16- 9:5
But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.
For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
Titus himself loved the Corinthians, and had confidence in their determination to help the struggling Christians in Jerusalem, as he was the one who first mentioned this to them, a year ago; and wanted to go back to see them and help them get this gift together. Titus must have been known to have substantial financial acumen to have this responsibility.
We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches;
We're not given the name of this brother, so they may not have met him yet.
and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work,
He is one who will go with Paul to deliver the gift to the Jerusalem church.
which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself,
There were representatives from many of the churches who would be going with him to bring the present.
and to show our readiness,
Many of the Gentile churches Paul founded participated in this aggregate gift.
taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;
Paul had representatives from churches in Macedonia and Galatia and Asia accompany him with this sizable bundle of money to take to Jerusalem for the saints, to provide security and accountability.
for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Paul is thinking of the admonition of Proverbs 3:4, to find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. He wanted to give glory to God, and also to maintain a good reputation.
We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
This is the third worker Paul is sending to Corinth ahead of his own visit. All three of these men have great confidence in the Corinthian saints to follow through on their pledge.
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.
So if anyone asks who these guys are: Titus is Paul's partner who works alongside him in the work, and the other two are delegates from the churches who have already contributed to the gift, all to bring glory to Christ.
Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
Paul is encouraging them to welcome these men openly, loving them as brothers in the Lord, and to live up to the confidences Paul has in them.
For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints;
for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
Paul considers it excessive to keep mentioning this, since they had decided and agreed a year ago to gather this collection and have it ready to send, and this has been a big encouragement to all these other churches to follow suit.
But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared;
So he's sending these three brothers to make sure they've made all the preparations, because they had said they would, and Paul has advertised their generosity among the other churches to encourage them to give also.
otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to speak of you--will be put to shame by this confidence.
We don't want to be ashamed of you, and especially we don't want you to be embarrassed at not having done what you said you would do, so have it finished and ready when I show up with the Macedonian brothers who your example encouraged.
So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift,
so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.
That's why he sending Titus and the others ahead of him, so that this generous gift would be just that, a gift generously given, not out of necessity or hastily thrown together out of duty.
Paul was handling and transporting a sizable sum of money, so he wanted them to have it all together and ready on time, so that he wouldn't be ashamed of boasting about them to encourage others to also give, and so they also wouldn't be embarrassed, if they didn't have it ready.
So he was sending not just one or two, but three brothers ahead of his coming, to help them get it all together. It needed to be freely given, and bountifully contributed, according to the bounty God had given them, not feeling that they had to give out of duty or obligation.
And Paul will be traveling in a large group, for several reasons. There is safety and security in numbers. They were delegates from many of the churches who contributed to this large gift, so they were invited to see the results, the recipients of this support. They would also provide accountability that it would all be there, and preserve the reputations of all involved. And God would receive the glory for all this cooperative giving.
O my Father, help us to understand how You view our finances, and the discernment to handle our money wisely, whether in paying our bills or contributing to the offering at church, or whatever we use it for. Grant us Your bounty in our incomes, so that we will be able to give generously, not having to count the pennies, or give out of obligation.
Father, Jesus taught us that what we do with our "treasure" shows where our hearts stand. So I pray that You would grant me the finances to joyfully give generously, not having to be concerned for my obligations.
And send me out, Father, let me sow Your precious seed, to cast it broadly across Your fertile fields. Let me reap some of Your fields ready for harvest, and help to fill Your great House. To build up Your Kingdom.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess in every language that Jesus our Christ is Lord God Almighty, the sovereign King of the the Universe, to the glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
