8:16 ¶ But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of
Titus for you. 17 For indeed he accepted
the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the
brother, whose praise is in the
gospel throughout all the churches; 19
And not that only, but
who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is
administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in
this abundance which is administered by us: 21
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also
in the sight of men. 22 And we have sent
with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things,
but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he
is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the
messengers of the churches, and
the glory of Christ. 24 Wherefore shew
ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting
on your behalf.
In verse 18 we don’t know who the brother was that went with Titus
to Corinth although some commentators have Luke and others have Barnabas based
on some statement or the other in Acts and apparently it is not important to
the narrative that we know. Still, it is these things throughout the Bible
mentioning little facts without elaborating that intrigues Bible students. If
we remember that predominantly the Bible is God’s revelation of His ministry of
reconciling man to Himself and focuses on what He has done and how men and
women responded these things do not give us much concern.
Chapter 9
9:1 ¶ For as touching the ministering to the
saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for
which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago;
and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3
Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain
in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me,
and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same
confident boasting. 5 Therefore I
thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto
you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the
same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
They’ve talked the talk and now Paul admonishes them to walk the
walk, so to speak. He bragged about them to the Macedonians and now is
encouraging them to put their money where their mouths are. (For non-English
speakers both idioms, “you’ve talked the talked now walk the walk,” and, “put
your money where your mouth is,” mean to not just say you are committed to do
something but do it.)
He doesn’t want to be embarrassed by the Corinthians if
representatives from the Macedonian church come with him. He is giving them
notice of his coming so they can prepare. His final comment is that he wants
their generosity to be a matter of their liberality, their voluntary
generosity, prepared beforehand and not begrudgingly as a greedy person who
only lets go of his or her money with hesitation and bitterness when
manipulated into guilt in a church meeting.
9:6 ¶ But this I say, He
which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth
bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may abound to every good work: 9 (As it
is written, He hath
dispersed abroad; he hath given to
the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower
both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and
increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth
through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For
the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints,
but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration
they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and
for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14 And by their prayer for you, which
long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable
gift.
In the context of supporting other churches that were suffering
Paul admonishes the Corinthians to give out of a cheerful heart, willingly, not
begrudgingly or as the result of manipulation.
Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they
bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
Remember
the instructions Paul gave to the church at Rome?
Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints;
given to hospitality.
Verse
9 is a quote from the Old Testament.
Psalm 112:9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor;
his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
Verse
13 carries a blessing for ministering to the needs of the suffering churches in
Judea, particularly Jerusalem, and by extension, to all in need. This was
contrasted with Roman concepts of charity where you only wanted to give first,
to public works, and secondly to people who would be able to benefit you in
return. There was government instituted relief for the poor in the form of the
grain dole which kept growing and growing becoming a political force modern
Democrats would appreciate. But, this is voluntary giving out of a cheerful
heart.
The
essence of Christian giving as opposed to non-Christian is that the recipient
does not have to be able to do anything for you or even be grateful for what
you have done. You do it because Christ did it. Giving is a proof of your
Christian character not of the character of the person receiving the help. In
fact, the greatest level of Christian giving, in keeping with what God has done
for us, is to give to someone who cannot give back and who perhaps does not
even know you were their benefactor as God knows and that is all that matters.
Jesus said, in perhaps the greatest sermon ever given by anyone [alms is giving
money or food to the poor and destitute];
Matthew 6:1 ¶ Take heed that ye do not your alms before
men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in
heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet
before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that
they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy
left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret
himself shall reward thee openly.
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