Here's the Plan
Notes
Transcript
2 Corinthians: Here’s the Plan
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.
17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.
18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will.
20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us,
21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.
22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
1. Introduction – Last week we moved in to chapter 8 in our study through 2 Corinthians. And in chapters 8-9, Paul abruptly changes subjects.
a. He moves quickly from defending his ministry to the subject of giving. And we were reminded last week of generosity…that generosity is a key Christian characteristic.
i. A heart that has truly been changed by Jesus is a generous heart.
1. We have a song we play at home sometimes…It says, “God loves a generous heart, cause it’s a heart like his own heart.’
b. In the section we looked at last week – Paul spurred the Corinthians on to generosity – he did so by appealing to them and giving them 2 examples of generous giving.
i. The Macedonian churches – who, even though they were dirt poor, gave beyond their means…they gave willingly, not recklessly.
1. And Paul gave the example of Jesus – who gave of himself, out of his riches…so that the Corinthians, the Macedonians…you and me could become rich.
ii. Last week was a reminder that when we come to Jesus it changes the way we interact with our possessions.
1. We don’t grab a hold of them and hold on tightly, but we hold it with an open hand…ready and willing to give whenever the need arises.
c. And the topic of generosity and the underlying them of the Jerusalem collection continues into the second half of chapter 8.
i. I’ll be honest with you, the verses we’re about to read seem a little strange and out of place. They seem like they are simply housekeeping details…Like Paul is laying out the protocol for how this collection is going to happen in Corinth.
1. And if we read it with worldly eyes…it is full of housekeeping details.
a. But since we believe that all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and righteousness…through the power of the same Spirit who inspired these words…
i. Our eyes can be opened and a passage that looks like its about policies and procedures…can benefit us spiritually.
ii. Hear God’s Word – 2 Corinthians 8:16-24.
1. Here’s what we’re going to look at this morning.
a. We’re going to walk through this text together and discover what it says.
i. We’ll explore what the text teaches us, and we’ll see ways that what it teaches can be applied to our lives today.
2. What it Says – On a surface level…this is a housekeeping passage.
a. Having previously encouraged the Corinthians to resume their collection for the saints in Jerusalem – Paul goes on to spell out just how this collection is going to take place.
i. Again, Paul is going out of his way to show that this collection isn’t about him.
1. It’s not a way for him to line his own pockets. In fact, in 1 Corinthians, he writes that the collection should be made before he even arrives…and that the Corinthians should send their own delegation to Jerusalem to present their gifts to the Christians there.
ii. And here in 2 Corinthians 8, Paul writes to them about the special envoy that will come on his behalf…and he uses this envoy as even more encouragement for them to give to the Jerusalem cause.
b. Paul tells them specifically of 3 men.
i. He writes of Titus. Titus…the one Paul sent to Corinth with his severe letter…
1. Titus, the one whom Paul searched for desperately in Troas…Paul left a promising ministry there in order to continue his search for Titus in Macedonia.
a. And since being reunited with Titus – after Titus had an edifying and uplifting experience previously in Corinth…Titus is eager to return.
ii. So the reunion didn’t last long, as Titus makes his way from Ephesus to Corinth, from Corinth to Macedonia…and then makes a return trip back to Corinth as part of the envoy for the Jerusalem collection.
1. And Paul didn’t have to convince Titus to go back, Titus willingly return because of his love for the people of Corinth.
c. After Titus, Paul mentions 2 unnamed men. Presumably they aren’t named because they would be standing in front of the Corinthians as they read this letter.
i. First, Paul writes of the famous broth. And did you catch why he is famous? Hear it again, “Famous among the churches for his preaching of the gospel.”
1. Isn’t that a great reason for fame? Famous for his preaching of the gospel. Wow. There’s incredible speculation about who this famous brother might be, but Paul doesn’t name him on purpose, so there’s no point in trying to figure out who it might be.
ii. Paul writes that this famous brother was appointed by the churches. It’s almost as if he was nominated as a delegate – much like we nominate and vote on delegates to send to our Annual Assembly.
1. Paul writes in essence, by a show of hands, the famous brother was appointed. It’s important to note that this man didn’t come from Paul’s posse. He wasn’t handpicked by Paul – an important key to the integrity of this mission.
d. And along with Titus and the famous brother, Paul is also sending the earnest brother – or the tested brother.
i. The ESV calls him earnest…the word is better translated zealous…more on that later.
1. We aren’t told why or how this brother was tested…but every time he was, he proved himself earnest and zealous in every matter.
e. So this is the envoy Paul sends to Corinth – Titus, whom the Corinthians know and have grown in affection for…
i. A brother, presumably from Macedonia, how is famous for his peaching of the gospel…
1. And an earnest and zealous brother who has proven his faithfulness on multiple occasions.
f. And in vv20-21, Paul explains why he is going about taking the collection up in this way.
i. Paul did it this way so that it would be blameless. It was a large sum of money that was being collected and distributed to the Christians in Jerusalem….
1. And Paul wanted to be as hands off as possible.
a. We aim, Paul writes, to do what is honourable in the sight of God and man.
ii. If Paul was writing today, he would probably use the word ‘optics.’ He’s not only concerned that the collection takes place to alleviate stress in Jerusalem…
1. He also wants to make sure everything is done above board.
a. He wants it to be beyond scrutiny – so that his critics won’t be able to discredit this collection and persuade the Corinthians not to contribute to it.
g. Paul writes this way – telling them who is coming and why they’re coming so that the Corinthians can give proof of their Christian love for other believers.
i. Now, before we move on what the text teachers…I want to address this idea of giving proof.
1. It’s a dangerous thing to ask someone or a group of people to give proof either of their salvation or their love.
a. This is not a tactics I’m suggesting we indulge in. I’m not endorsing it…it’s not something we should try on a regular basis.
ii. But think about the rocky relationship Paul had with the Corinthians…think of the ways that the Corinthians proved that salvation didn’t take root in them.
1. But now that their grief led to repentance which led to reconciliation…After Titus’ visit – there seemed to have been a renewed vigor in the Corinthian church – especially a vigor to participate in the Jerusalem collection.
a. But, the Corinthians had a history of being fickle and wishy washy and changing their minds and losing interest quickly – so Paul, rightfully I believe, asks them for proof of the change that has taken place.
iii. Given their history and conduct in the past, Paul asks them to show that their encounter with Jesus has given them a generous heart.
3. Teaching Points – So on the surface – housekeeping details…but if we dive deeper into the text, there are some deep underlying teaching points found here.
a. First, I want to focus on this word ‘earnest’…but a better translation of the word is zeal or zealous.
i. Paul uses this word 4 times in this short passage. Titus was zealous for the Corinthians.
1. Titus – zealous to return to Corinth.
a. The tested brother was zealous and the more he was tested the more zealous he became.
ii. Zeal – if Paul uses it 4 times in 9 verses…we better make sure we know what it means.
1. Zeal is to have great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.
a. He has great zeal towards this cause or that cause.
iii. Zeal, we may place many other Christian characteristics ahead of it on a priority list…love, joy, peace…grace, mercy, justice…but zeal is actually pretty high on Paul’s priority list.
1. He spurs many people on to increase in zeal.
a. Even before this section and its 4 references to zeal, Paul has already written of zeal 3 times in 2 Corinthians. 7 times in 8 chapters…
i. In Romans 12:8 -Paul writes that leaders are to lead with zeal…with passion and energy.
8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
1. In Ephesians 4:3 – Paul writes that we should be zealous to maintain the unity of the Spirit in bond of peace.
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
iv. So while we may not think of zeal all that highly, or we don’t know what to do when we encounter a zealous person…Paul reminds us that the Christian life isn’t a joyless, passionless, zeal-less experience.
1. It’s a life full of passion. We just need to make sure we are zealous and passionate about the right things.
a. Paul writes that Titus was zealous in his care for the Corinthians.
i. That’s a good place to start. We must passionately and energetically care for each other.
2. Paul wrote that when the tested brother was tested more – he proved himself zealous.
v. Often when we are tested we develop a ‘woe is me’ attitude and we start staring at our belly buttons again.
1. We indulge in self-pity, and when we’re tested…often we are found lacking.
a. But when God tests us, we need to be reminded of the refining nature of God’s fire. It doesn’t not burn and destroy…it refines and purifies.
i. We need to be reminded that testing in God’s way of purifying us so that we better reflect the image of our refiner.
vi. Zeal, passion, energy towards a certain objective…towards the gospel, zeal in caring for others…it’s an important Christian characteristic.
1. What are you zealous towards?
b. Secondly – this passage teaches us about integrity.
i. It seems like the theme of integrity pops u every other week during this study.
1. Paul spells out for the Corinthians why he is sending 3 men…why he’s NOT coming himself…and why he is going about taking up the collection in this way.
ii. Earlier in the letter Paul defended the integrity of his ministry…defended his lifestyle, his decision making, his travel plans…even his afflictions.
1. And here, Paul reminds us that we need to have integrity when it comes to financial matters.
a. This goes for us as individuals, but it is also true for us as a church. Many a ministry and church have been ruined by financial scandal.
iii. There’s a reason why our church finances are audited every year…and the record of that audit made public in our annual report.
1. We want to have accountability and integrity when it comes to financial matters as a church.
iv. But one commentator I read this week reminded me of the wider function of integrity.
George Guthrie writes - “Not only in financial situations, but also in areas such as sexuality, leadership, and communication, forethought should be given to safeguarding attitudes, postures, and actions that are noble, morally beautiful before the Lord and before people.… We should ask ourselves with regard to our handling of resources and our public witness, ‘Do we act with such sterling integrity that we allay suspicion of our motives and promote a positive witness before both a watching world and our God?’
1. That’s the kind of integrity we need to have…all pervasive. Do we act in a way that is pleasing to God and alleviates all suspicion from a watching world?
c. Unity – And finally – we have to ask ourselves the question, “Why does Paul write in so much detail about the nature of this collection?”
i. Why is this so important to him?
1. For Paul – this collection is a practical outworking of the gospel. Elsewhere Paul writes that in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, In Christ – are all equal citizens…there are no second-class citizens in Christ.
a. No hierarchy based on class, race, gender, or financial status.
ii. And the Jerusalem collection was a practical outworking of this theology.
1. Remember it was the Gentile churches that were being asked to support and give aid to the church in Jerusalem.
a. It was a visible sign that in Christ all are equal. The Gentiles weren’t resentful towards the Jerusalem church, but were generous and willing to give.
d. Unity…unity is one of our greatest strength as God’s people.
i. We aren’t a bunch of individuals who happen to gather together in the same place at the same time, we are a unified whole. Among us there’s no hierarchy for a position held or years of service…but we are unified.
1. And we aren’t unified because we are all the same – we come from a diversity of backgrounds we have a diversity in occupations…
a. But we have unity – as we are united by our salvation in the blood of Jesus and our we are united in our desire to see his kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
4. Conclusion – So on the surface, it seems like a housekeeping passage…spelling out protocols for how the collection for Jerusalem is going to work.
a. But there’s always something more. This passage reminds us that the Christian life is a zealous life.
i. Full of energy and enthusiasm and passion…passion for the gospel and for each other.
1. This section reminds us that we are God’s people are to be people of integrity.
a. We are to be integral when it comes to our finances, our relationships and our communication…
i. Are we removing suspicion from our ministry and being a positive witness to our world?
ii. And we are reminded of unity.
1. In Christ we are all equals – no hierarchy, but people who live in submission to the Lordship of Jesus.
b. This week, ponder these 3 things…
i. What am I zealous towards?
a. Am I person of integrity?
An I striving towards unity?
