Biblical Character
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Reminder that here in chapter 8 of 2 Corinthians Paul is preparing them to give an offering to the Jewish Christians.
Most marriage problems revolve around 3 things Money, Sex, and parenting the children. So if money is one of the things most marriages struggle with then you can imagine how important this topic is within in the church as well.
I often have people tell me Pastor if I win the lottery, then get ready because I will bull doze this place down and buy you an all new building.
I don’t say it but what I am thinking in my head is, why don’t you just give us the money you are using to play the lottery with. I would take that.
The lottery was once described to me as the governments tax on the poor man. The poor man doesn’t have anything to be taxed and so the lottery was created to get money from the poor man.
I am not a fan of the lottery. I don’t have much hope in someone winning and giving a large sum to the church.
Why?
The amount of money one has does not change the character of the person. Having more money does not make one more generous. We looked at this with the church of Macedonia a couple of weeks ago.
It is the poorest of states in the United States that are often the most generous.
Today in 2 Corinthians 8 we see that the individuals who are prepared to receive the collection have Biblical character.
This is our desire that the Word of God shapes our character. Our character is not based on how much money we have, but our character is based on the word of God.
CAUTION
There is so much that is trying to shape your character and grab your attention. Election coming up the ads are trying to grab your attention and shape how you think and who you are.
Global pandemic and many are trying to grab your attention and tell you how you should think and shape your character.
Social Justice nationwide trying to grab your attention and shape your character and tell you what you should think about these issues.
My challenge to us this morning is that the Word of God shapes our character, The Word of God teaches how we should think and how we should act.
This morning I am challenged by these three individuals who Paul commends that will receive the collection.
16 Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus.
17 For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice.
18 We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.
19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
20 We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us.
21 For we are making provision for what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men.
22 We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you.
Pray
16 Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus.
17 For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice.
Paul starts his description of Titus with thanks to God.
What did God do?
God put the same concern that I have for you into the heart of Titus.
Paul was thankful that his colleague had the same concern for the Corinthians that he had.
Paul recognizes that such earnest care has been put into the heart of Titus by God.
It is one thing to train someone how to care for someone else, but it is a whole different level when the person starts to care for others because that is their character.
This last week I have seen this with Sue Stewart as things quickly changed with Angie as she went to be with the Lord. Sue was caring for her friend throughout this time and even at times when I could not be there with Angie, Sue was there.
This is also One thing I appreciate about Jim and Mary Harriger is that I didn’t have to train them to care for others in our community and church. God long ago developed that heart inside of Jim and Mary long ago and I am thankful to God for this.
I just love how Paul gives thanks to God for what Titus is doing. This was so true last week during our baptisms that in each of the ladies lives that were baptized God was at work in them. Thanks be to God!
Gratitude is a powerful character trait. Gratitude has the power to change us. Think of those around you spouse, child, friend, or coworker what are you thankful for in them that God is doing?
We see gratitude as a character trait and we also see Titus’s concern for others on his own.
17 For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice.
Titus accepted our urging and being very diligent
Diligent: With much enthusiasm
Independently he determined on his own to come to you.
Biblical character is described here. He came to you with much enthusiasm and all on his own.
You might say that is not a big deal. Think about a child cleaning their room. Think about when you have to force them to clean verses when they take the initiative on their own and clean.
Monday night I took Macy to a basketball game because Amy was not feeling well. Kylie cleaned the entire house. She cleaned the kitchen, the bathroom, and the living room.
I told Amy to email her teacher and see what she did at school that day. She has got to be in some deep trouble.
No she just had enthusiasm and on her own started cleaning. That was a big deal for us as parents.
This is a Biblical Character for Paul that Titus with enthusiasm went on his own to these Corinthian believers.
18 We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.
The next individual we find is unnamed but has a reputation.
Notice what his reputation is for his character. He is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.
He is known for preaching the gospel and general support for Gospel ministry.
The gospel means good news. This second guys name is not listed but he is known for supporting gospel ministry. He is known for sharing the good news of Jesus.
The term here leads us to believe that this individual is not only one who shares the good news but he is also supportive of all who do.
I like this when we desire Biblical character that we not only share the good news of the Gospel but that we are also supportive to others who are sharing as well.
19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
Paul stresses that this individual has been appointed by the the churches. He does not tell us what churches but he says he has been appointed by the churches.
This individual was their chosen representative for this gracious work. He had a reputation among the churches as one who can handle the collection.
This is beautiful because not only does his own church support his reputation but churches plural support it. May we desire that our character not only holds up in our church but many churches would desire for us to represent them.
(This is difficult because many churches are differing over non essentials today) May we live a life supporting the Gospel that churches would see this and we would represent all churches by our Godly character.
19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
The purpose of this gift is for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
This collection is being taken up by Gentile converts and it is given to Jewish Christians. This collection was a tangible expression of the reconciliation which God had effected through Christ.
Jews had a bad view of Gentiles before Christ. Now these believers are living out Christ reconciliation practically as the Gentile believers are supporting the Jewish Christians.
Christ is reconciling both Jew and Gentile through the cross and in so doing God had reconciled the groups to one another.
It is this reconciliation of Jew and Gentile that brings Glory to God.
2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary c. Commendation of Those Who Will Receive the Collection (8:16–24)
Paul had fought long and hard to preserve the freedom of the gospel for his Gentile converts, and had won the approval of the Jewish mother church for the gospel he preached among the Gentiles
We see this in Galatians 2
1 Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
2 I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain.
3 But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
4 This issue arose because of false brothers smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.
6 Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism )—they added nothing to me.
7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised,
8 since the One at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles.
9 When James, Cephas, and John, recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
10 They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I made every effort to do.
Paul fought hard to share the truth of the Gospel and it was not Gospel plus circumcision and that through the Gospel the Gentiles were coming to the grace of the Lord Jesus.
The Gentile churches because of this could have went their own way but you see them here supporting the Jewish christians.
Amazing
19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
Paul says this collection will show the Jewish christians that they as Gentiles are eager to help.
20 We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us.
21 For we are making provision for what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men.
Before commending the third individual whom Paul is sending he explains why so much care is being taken to provide the credentials of the men coming to receive it.
He says we are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us or blame us about this large sum of money.
It is clear that there were opponents of Paul and his gospel. You know these opponents would love to call into question how he handles money.
Not only that but a group of churches has sent these men. It is essential that they handle things right.
They are making sure they handle what is right before the Lord and right before men.
I think we need to note that they not only do what is right in the sight of the Lord but they take extra precaution to make sure they do what is right in the sight of men as well.
There are times in life where you may not have to take extra steps to do what is right before men because you know it is right before God but here Paul takes that extra step to do what is right before God and men. This is another great character trait for us to see.
4 Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
It was important to Paul that the collection should be honorable in the sight of the Lord and it was important that it be seen as honorable in the sight of men.
22 We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
Like the second individual this one does not have a name listed here either.
We have tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent.
They tested him in many circumstances. One of my favorite lines from Dave Ramsey is I worked my tail off for 40 years to become an over night success.
Everyone wants to have a great reputation and character but few want to put in the work to get this. He was tested.
I love sports because they test you when you lose and they test you when you need to make a come back. This helps later in life when test in life come that you don’t back down.
Young people endure test prove yourself no one owes you the top. Earn it.
This guy has earned it.
He not only earned it but he proved himself diligent.
Paul used this several times and thought it to be a valuable character trait.
Diligent: Showing keen interest or intense desire (to do something).
He was eager. He wanted it.
22 We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
He had great confidence in the Corinthians and so he was desiring to come to them.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you.
Paul sums up these three men who are coming to receive the collection.
Titus, He is my partner and coworker serving you.
These brothers: they are messengers of the other churches and they work for the Glory of Christ.
Therefore show them proof
Be ready with your gift. Show the churches you are ready. Show the churches of your love and our boasting about you be ready.
Character traits listed today
Great concern or care for others
Gratitude
Diligence: That is with enthusiasm
Taking initiative/doing things on their own
Praised throughout the churches
Known for support of Gospel Ministry
They did what was honorable in the sight of God and man
They where tested in many circumstances
Diligent: intense desire to do something