We Aim at What Is Honorable

Reading:  2 Corinthians 8:16-24
    
    Even Paul’s travel plans are shot through with rich spiritual meaning.  The basic facts of this section are that Paul is sending Titus and two brothers who will collect this money and be part of the delegation to take it to Jerusalem.  Yet Paul begins by thanking God:  “But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you”(2 Cor 8:16).  God is responsible for Titus’ great care for these people (see 7:13-15), which is motivating him to do this errand.  The other two brothers are mysterious characters whom Paul does not name.  The first is “the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel” who has also been ”appointed by the churches to travel with us”(2 Cor 8:18, 19).  Everyone knows this brother because of his good work and other churches (such as those in Macedonia) have entrusted their money to him.  The second is “our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters”(2 Cor 8:22).  Paul vouches for this man as trustworthy as well.

    So why does Paul take all of this trouble about the collection?  “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man”(2 Cor 8:20-21).  He wants everyone to know that all his actions are above board.  Paul is not getting rich here.  This is not a scheme.  He wants all the churches to be comfortable and confident.  He also knows that this mission is “for the glory of the Lord himself”(2 Cor 8:19) and that these men are “messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ”(2 Cor 8:23).  Jesus’ own glory is at stake.

    Christians should welcome transparency in all matters, particularly financial matters.  The money scandals Paul was on guard against in the New Testament era occur much more frequently today.  Can others trust us in money issues?  Are we consistently demonstrating—perhaps even in ways that are inconvenient—that everything is above board with the way we handle our affairs?

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One Thing to Think About:  Have I thought about what is honorable with regard to my money, work, and family?

One Thing to Pray For:  A heart that welcomes transparency
 

How God Evaluates

Reading:  2 Corinthians 8:8-15
    
    Paul has been encouraging the Corinthians to complete their promised gift for the needy Jerusalem Christians by describing the Macedonians’ generosity (v. 1-5).  “I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine”(2 Cor 8:8).  True gifts must come from a willing heart, uncoerced by any command.  So Paul explains that he is stirring up their motivation “by the earnestness of others.”  He has another example to mention:  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich”(2 Cor 8:9).  Jesus chose to lay aside the wealth of heaven and become a Galilean peasant to enrich us.  Giving is at the heart of the gospel.

    What is odd is that it appears that the Corinthians were initially interested in contributing but have now cooled.  They “a year ago started”(2 Cor 8:10) and now he wants them to “finish doing it”(2 Cor 8:11).  Perhaps they have experienced hard financial times or think that their gift won’t amount to much.  Paul reassures:  “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have”(2 Cor 8:12).  He urges them to give the gift without concern for what others have (or what the Corinthians do not have).  But it is possible that the issue is that they view it as unfair to have to give to others.  “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness”(2 Cor 8:13-14).  This is not a permanent dependence; Paul merely seeks “fairness” and equality as brethren share their gifts.

    Paul asserts that our service is “acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”  This is the principle of the widow’s two mites:  God does not evaluate absolutely, but according to what we have.  God sees our hearts.  He does not compare us to others who have more or less—money, talent, opportunity.  He simply expects us to do what we can with what we have where we are—and finds this “acceptable.”

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One Thing to Think About:  What do I have that can benefit others?

One Thing to Pray For:  Opportunities to share with (and receive from) my brothers
 

Give Yourself First

Reading:  2 Corinthians 8:1-7
    
    As Paul tries to motivate the Corinthians to give to support needy Jewish Christians (2 Cor 8:4), he employs an interesting tactic:  he brags about the Macedonians.  He mentions these churches (in the region north of Corinth) who “in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.  For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord”(2 Cor 8:2-3).  These Macedonian believers’ passion to give shines through despite them not having much to give.  This contribution will mean not only helping needy Christians, but also unifying believers since many of the Corinthians are Gentiles and the Jerusalem Christians are Jews.  Such a gift gives them “abundance of joy” and leaves them “begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints”(2 Cor 8:4).  They see the opportunity to give as a gift itself.

    This surprises Paul:  “and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us”(2 Cor 8:5).   Surely Paul expected only marginal contributions from such poor people, but he had not counted on their complete dedication.  Their contribution flows from a previous commitment: “they gave themselves first to the Lord.”  Now Paul wants the Corinthians to be inspired by the Macedonians’ example.  They have already begun to give (2 Cor 8:6, 1 Cor 16:1-4) and now they should “complete this act of grace”(2 Cor 8:6) and “excel in this act of grace also”(2 Cor 8:7).

      “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”  When we give ourselves first, it is a small thing to give some money, time, energy, or effort.  All that we are has already been sacrificed to Jesus.  Christian service is more than writing a check or fixing a problem; I am at the disposal of others.  So when others—like Paul—approach us with an opportunity to bless others, sacrifice of ourselves, and share, there is no decision to be made.  We’ve already given ourselves away.

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One Thing to Think About:  Do I ever resent others needing me?  How might Paul’s words help?

One Thing to Pray For:  Complete commitment to Jesus—and then to my brothers
 

Good Grief

Reading:  2 Corinthians 7:10-16
    
    As Paul explains why he is comforted by the Corinthians’ reception of his hard letter, he distinguishes between different types of grief.  “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death”(2 Cor 7:10).  Both states are painful but Paul sees a difference based on what types of behaviors they produce.  “Worldly grief produces death” because while we may feel sad, we do not necessarily change or grow from our sadness.  “Worldly grief” speaks to patterns of behavior that hurt us but we never learn from.  

    Godly grief is different:  “For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment!  At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter”(2 Cor 7:11).   This style of sadness lights a fire under us.  We are suddenly determined not to duplicate our wrong (“fear”).  We are furious with ourselves (“indignation”) and passionate about living in a higher way (“zeal”).  In the case of the Corinthians, they have eagerly addressed the situation with a man living in sin among them despite the challenges the situation presents.  Not only has their response encouraged Paul, but it has also blessed Titus:  “his spirit has been refreshed by you all” and “his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling”(2 Cor 7:13, 15).  Watching brothers passionately do what is right transforms us.

    When Paul makes a distinction between worldly and godly grief, he is not discussing the emotion itself.  He is arguing that we have a choice in how we respond to things that make us sad or angry.  These emotions can be extremely powerful fuel for change.  If we humble ourselves and channel our emotions toward obedience, we can make wonderful, permanent, life-giving changes.

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One Thing to Think About:  When was the last time I experienced “godly grief”?

One Thing to Pray For:  Courage to move beyond pangs of sadness or concern toward real change
 

The Power of Hard Words

Reading:  2 Corinthians 7:1-9
    
    Paul keeps imploring the Corinthians to “make room in your hearts for us”(2 Cor 7:2).  His heart is on his sleeve:  “We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one…you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together”(2 Cor 7:2, 3).  There is no reason for them to reject Paul—he has been utterly sincere and only done them good—yet they are holding back their hearts.  As evidence of his openness, he again describes his emotions:  “great boldness…great pride…filled with comfort…overflowing with joy”(2 Cor 7:4).  This is not flattery; Paul is leading with his heart.

    He also details his anxiety over their reception of his “painful letter,” picking up his thought from 2 Cor 2:1-4, 12-13.  While awaiting Titus’ news of the Corinthians, “our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.  But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus”(2 Cor 7:5-6).  Paul is wrestling with his deep concern:  will the Corinthians reject him, the will of God, and Christlike attitudes toward sin?  Yet he receives wonderful comfort from Titus’ arrival with the news that they have received his rebuke well (2 Cor 7:7).  “For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that the letter grieved you, though only for a while.  As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting”(2 Cor 7:8-9).  Despite all the grief it caused them and all the concern it caused him, Paul is thankful that his hard words made a difference.

    Sometimes we need rebuke, but hard words are hard to take.  They sting us.  We get defensive and lash out.  Or we attempt to discredit the speaker.  We may even cut off anyone who says things we don’t like.  This scene shows us the power of hard words to alert us to needed changes.  Others (especially our brothers and sisters in Christ) can see our blind spots and give us vital insight.  They love us enough to brave our displeasure and speak into our lives.  Hard words can transform us, but we must receive them.

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One Thing to Think About:  How do I typically react when others challenge me?

One Thing to Pray For:  Wisdom to know when and how to give hard words to others