Rachel Workman: I wish more people would take
such care to make sure they were honorable before the Lord. It's very
hard to bring someone to Christ, or even persuade someone to attend
church where there are so many dishonorable people leading and attending
church. By no means am I trying to say I am perfect because I too am
the hypocrite that says one thing and thinks or does another. I have a
long ways to go in my walk with Christ.
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John Burnett: 16 Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.19 What
is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the
offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to
show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
22 In
addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to
us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his
great confidence in you. 23 As
for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our
brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to
Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. One
of the few things I look for when I choose a church, besides the
teaching of the gospel of repentance and faith, is how giving the church
is in regards to supporting missionaries. The example set here by the
Corinthians should be used by all churches as a mirror for how we are to
give. The best way to tell if a church is authentic in its love of God
and the truth is if it is fulfilling the great commission and sending
people out. I praise God that my church sends more college students
into the mission field than any other church in America and supports
over 90 full time missionaries worldwide. It is also known for sending
the most college graduates to Dallas Theological Seminary. It gives me a
sense of pride like Paul has for the Corinthians here in these verses.
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Allen Michaels: 16 Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.
17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany
us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the
Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.
Paul
and Titus understood the importance of the collection. This collection
was ‘for the glory of the Lord’. That was how Paul saw it. At one time,
there was a
division between Jews and Gentiles. That was before the time of Jesus
who broke down the wall of division. That happened when he died upon the
Cross (Ephesians 2:14). It was different after that. The grace of God was working in both groups. He was working
in the lives of both Jewish and Gentile Christians.
20 We
want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
Paul
controlled a large amount of money. He needed to be very careful. He
must act in the right way. People must see that his actions are right.
They must be right
in the eyes of the Lord. They must be right in the eyes of men. So,
Paul chose three men other than himself.
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in
many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as
for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor
to Christ.
Titus
is Paul’s friend. He works with Paul and is close to him. The two
brothers represent their churches. They are also apostles whom their
churches have sent
out. These brothers are also an honour to Christ. They are an honour to
his glory. The collection is an honour to the Lord (or the glory of
Christ). That is how Paul speaks about it.
24 Therefore
show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
People
have the control of money in a church. It is important that they do
what is right. They do it in the eyes of the Lord. They do it also in
the eyes of men
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Monday's reading for 2 Corinthians 9:1-5
9 I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem.[a] 2 For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece[b]
were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your
enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin
giving.
3 But
I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have
been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to
be wrong in my boasting about you. 4 We
would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some
Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after
all I had told them! 5 So
I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the
gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one
given grudgingly.
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