And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. (II Corinthians 8:22-24)
In his previous letter to the church in Corinth and in his other letters, Paul didn't spend much time writing about giving. He would give short instructions, On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. (I Corinthians 16:2-3) Usually he wouldn't say much more than that. But in this second letter to the church in Corinth, he's spent a lot of time explaining why we should give, and now, how we should give.
First, he acknowledges Titus, who not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. He also acknowledges the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, who is probably Timothy. We're not sure who our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent is. Regardless of who they were, the fact that they were trusted to return to Corinth and deliver this lavish gift which is administered by us is a testimony to their character.
We have to make sure that we too can be trusted by God to do His work and administer His gifts. We aren't to work as men-pleasers or to be seen by men. Jesus taught, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ... But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." (Matthew 6:1-4) And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Paul was saying that not only would their bringing the gift, but the way they were bringing the gift to the church in Corinth brought honor in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men, because they were handling it very carefully and with much accountability. Which leads to another very important point, that we should have accountability in our churches with the handling of the gifts that come in. No one person should handle what is given to the church or a charity, but at least three people, based on the context of this message, should know what's coming in and what's going out, the first person being the pastor or leader of the church, and the rest should be honorable and trustworthy people.
The pastor or leader of the church should meet the following qualifications: A bishop [or pastor] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into thes ame condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (I Timothy 3:1-7)
As for the rest who take on leadership responsibilities in the church: Likewise deacons [administrators] must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 3:8-13)
In his previous letter to the church in Corinth and in his other letters, Paul didn't spend much time writing about giving. He would give short instructions, On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. (I Corinthians 16:2-3) Usually he wouldn't say much more than that. But in this second letter to the church in Corinth, he's spent a lot of time explaining why we should give, and now, how we should give.
First, he acknowledges Titus, who not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. He also acknowledges the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, who is probably Timothy. We're not sure who our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent is. Regardless of who they were, the fact that they were trusted to return to Corinth and deliver this lavish gift which is administered by us is a testimony to their character.
We have to make sure that we too can be trusted by God to do His work and administer His gifts. We aren't to work as men-pleasers or to be seen by men. Jesus taught, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ... But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." (Matthew 6:1-4) And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Paul was saying that not only would their bringing the gift, but the way they were bringing the gift to the church in Corinth brought honor in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men, because they were handling it very carefully and with much accountability. Which leads to another very important point, that we should have accountability in our churches with the handling of the gifts that come in. No one person should handle what is given to the church or a charity, but at least three people, based on the context of this message, should know what's coming in and what's going out, the first person being the pastor or leader of the church, and the rest should be honorable and trustworthy people.
The pastor or leader of the church should meet the following qualifications: A bishop [or pastor] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into thes ame condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (I Timothy 3:1-7)
As for the rest who take on leadership responsibilities in the church: Likewise deacons [administrators] must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 3:8-13)
It's pretty clear the character and lifestyle of the people who should be in leadership positions within the church. Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. (II Corinthians 9:1-5)
Now, as for how we should give. Paul was emphasizing that we should prepare our gifts in advance. As a good practice, we should set aside our tithes and offerings before we do anything else. Most of us work and pay bills. We should pay God tithes and offerings first: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10) The purpose of paying tithes and offerings and giving our "firstfruits" is to provide for the needs of the Levite [the bishop, pastor or leader of the church], the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat... (Deuteronomy 26:1-15)
Now, as for how we should give. Paul was emphasizing that we should prepare our gifts in advance. As a good practice, we should set aside our tithes and offerings before we do anything else. Most of us work and pay bills. We should pay God tithes and offerings first: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10) The purpose of paying tithes and offerings and giving our "firstfruits" is to provide for the needs of the Levite [the bishop, pastor or leader of the church], the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat... (Deuteronomy 26:1-15)
God didn't bless us to just take care of our needs, but He also wants to use us to help take care of the needs of others. By giving to the church, God uses the church to help others. That's why we have to be very careful who we put in positions of leadership, because they have a huge responsibility from God to do what God commands with the gifts that are received. But as for our giving, For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48)
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”[Psalm 112:9] (II Corinthians 9:6-9)
Not only will God bless us when we pay our tithes and offerings, that He will open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it; but He will also "...rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,..." (Malachi 3:11) If we trust God to do what He commands in this area of our lives, He will make sure we have not only what we need but more than we need, to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Just as Jesus taught in the parable of the talents, when we do what God commands us to do with what He gives us, He will say, " ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ " (Matthew 25:21, 23)
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”[Psalm 112:9] (II Corinthians 9:6-9)
Not only will God bless us when we pay our tithes and offerings, that He will open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it; but He will also "...rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,..." (Malachi 3:11) If we trust God to do what He commands in this area of our lives, He will make sure we have not only what we need but more than we need, to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Just as Jesus taught in the parable of the talents, when we do what God commands us to do with what He gives us, He will say, " ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ " (Matthew 25:21, 23)
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (II Corinthians 9:10-15) AMEN!
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