As we have been seeing, Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian church. This is not his first letter and he has been addressing some of the problems that the church is struggling with. He has also been motivating the church to specific areas of obedience. We are in a section where he is urging them to follow through the plan to give generously to the church in Jerusalem, which requires them to cross an ethnic divide. In today’s text, we will read of 3 men that will collect the gift and bring it to Jerusalem.
But it’s not just about collecting money and bringing it from point A to B. Paul emphasises here the importance of character and stresses credibility. Credibility is important because it supports the work of churches, and it is something that we should all cultivate. What is God saying to me tonight about character in the church? What is God saying about my relationship to the church?
(A) Reinforcement #1: Men of Character lend Credibility to the work of churches (2 Cor 8:16–23)
Paul has spent time recapping, rebuking and motivating the Corinthians as a church in areas like his ministry plans, recognizing true apostles and gospel workers, true repentance that leads to change, and now, providing support to Jerusalem believers in need.
Paul recaps how the church in Corinth had pledged their aid to the Jerusalem church a year ago (2 Cor 8:10) and urges them to make good on their promise (2 Cor 8:11-14). This was something that they had already started a year ago. In 1 Cor 16:1-7 written quite some time ago, we see the instructions that was given a while back. Paul also shared his intended route and will collect this as he passes through the different parts. He will also send men with the proper accreditation to collect the funds they had set aside.
Here, we can see that Paul has no concept of a fixed deposit or savings account or trust fund, or any security in this sense. As a church has needs, he believes that God supplies through other believers. In Paul’s mind, everything that the churches need for ministry and what God needs for Kingdom work is already in the pocket of the church members. As believers empty their pockets, God provides.
After stressing the importance of the ministry of grace, Paul notifies the church in Corinth that it will be Titus and two other brothers who will be coming to collect the readied money. In doing so, Paul thanks God for Titus’s earnest and willing heart for the Corinth church (2 Cor 8:16-17). Paul conveys the enthusiasm and devotion that Titus has for the church beyond obligation.
How do you know if someone really loves this church? What signs and marks are on someone who has an earnest love for the church? Is it what he said? How he prayed? What he did on a regular basis? Does it show in his decision making, what he does and also does not do? Titus was one who was devoted and cannot be distracted from the wellbeing of this church.
Paul’s confidence in Titus extends to the two brothers that will accompany Titus. Paul describes one of the brothers to be “famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel” (2 Cor 8:19). But notice Paul doesn’t name him. We can assume that this brother may be Apollos (1 Cor 16:12), but Paul is being intentional here to turn the attention away from Apollos’s fame to the fact that the two brothers, known or unknown, have been tested in character and authorized in various areas (2 Cor 8:22).
Competency in preaching is important, but character of earnestness and faithfulness is even more important in building trust in the work of the church. These men worked to ensure that they are honourable in both God’s sight, but also in the sight of men (2 Cor 8:21). What if there were no such men? Can the work be done? Paul emphasises their character and their love for the church because that gives this work the credibility.
Work of ministries can be tanked because of character flaws. Even today, we keep reading of fallen leaders etc. This is why the NT often emphasises not competence, but character qualities. Most of the qualifications for church leaders found in the New Testament are with regards to character, rather than skill or talent (c.f. Titus 1:5-9, 1 Tim 3:1-7). God’s ministers must be those who have been tested and found faithful and credible, and also to have this earnest heart and love for the people.
What happens when we are found to lack character? We destroy the credibility of our King. This is something that we all have to think about. In fact, it begins now. We need to be tested and tried, and show earnest care for the church and be honourable in God’s sight. Don’t delay and think that you’re young and have time to figure it out next time. If you hear it today, respond today. Are you the kind of person that someone would approach to do the work because you have a credible character? And if someone approaches you, would you go, because you have this earnest care for the church? Are we contributing to the credibility of our churches?
We need to commit ourselves not just to attend church, but to be credible people in churches, so that the church can do her work. It won’t do if we are insincere in our interactions, or cutting corners in our QT, or hiding sin and lust and nursing idolatry and worshipping self. It won’t do if we are harsh with our words and with others, and are not servants. This only works if we have character and if we are in the church, such that we can be tasked and show our care for the bride of Christ and be deployable. We can’t be tasked with anything if we are not credible and if we are not even there.
(B) Reinforcement #2: Generous Gifts prove Paul’s Confidence in Churches (2 Cor 8:24-9:5)
Paul also wants the church to receive and respond to these men i.e. give them the money that they intended to, and welcome them in a way that validates their boast (2 Cor 8:24). What will it look like for the Corinthians to receive these men well? It could mean being hospitable and taking interest in their work and wellbeing. They would also hand the money over with a cheerful heart, and in a way that genuinely believe that these are your brothers you are receiving, as if they’re your own family members!
Does this sound odd to us? We may be tempted to think of it in purely transactional and mechanical terms. But here, Paul is saying that their gift is an act of love! They are to also think about why they’re giving, where the money is going to, and to the people that the money will benefit. This is not just a transaction, but an expression and a result of what God has done in their lives.
These commands therefore go for the sake of the Corinthians themselves, that their love may be genuine. It also serves to vindicate Paul’s boasting
.After stressing the tested integrity of the three workers, Paul moves on to boast in the Corinthian church. He says it is superfluous to write about the ministry of giving since the people have been ready to serve with their generous giving (2 Cor 9:1). He tells them that he has been boasting about them to the people of Macedonia (2 Cor 9:2), and to the brothers (2 Cor 9:3). It’s easy to think boasting is bad, so why does Paul repeat this idea in this passage? In 1 Cor 1:26-31, we see that no one can boast in the sight of God in himself. But this text also says that if we boast, we are to boast in the Lord. There is a right way to boast. The way that we boast is in our God, who He is and what He has done. Thus, when Paul boasts in the Corinthians, Paul is laying out a way for us to think about ourselves and others as the work and workmanship of God.
Paul means that there is a way for us to look at brothers and sisters in the church and see that they are God’s workmanship and how their good works, faithfulness and maturity display the work of God (c.f. 2 Cor 1:14). It is right and loving for us to celebrate God’s work in one another. This is what Paul is saying here: God has made them generous and when they display that, Paul is proud.
How do you think of others? Do you look at others and celebrate the work of God in their lives? Do you boast in the Lord as you see His work in people? Do you boast in the Lord as you see His work in the church? Friends, let us boast in the church. Let us not boast in how great our pastor and preaching is. Boast in the church, because you can see God’s people respond to the gospel in real, practical ways. Can you see God’s good work in your church? Celebrate how each person in your church is here because God is a God who saves, and is a God who also bears fruit in our lives!
He is showing us that we can rejoice and boast in the fruit of God’s people now, but one day will be fully fulfilled as a Bridegroom rejoices in the Bride (Rev 21:2). The church is the Bride that Jesus died for. If the Lamb loved and gave His life. Cultivate in your heart now, a desire to see the church as this spotless bride! From now on, every time you go to a wedding and see a bride, tell your heart that Jesus is preparing and waiting for His bride. What else would I love and give my life to? Would you make the church and her work your passion and devotion and what you love?