Tag: Devotion

2 Corinthians 8:18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

There was an unnamed brother in Christ who went with Titus to the church in Corinth. He was a man of God, well-known, throughout all the churches. He was tasked by the Apostle Paul to accompany Titus so that the collection can be safely delivered to the saints in Jerusalem. This man will be entrusted with the task together with a third unnamed person in the team to bring the collection from the Corinthian church.

The Apostle Paul’s purpose for organizing this collection was to honour the Lord. [MacDonald]

As our Lord said in Matthew 25:40 … Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Such was the exhortation in Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

2 Corinthians 8:17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

When the walls of Jerusalem have to be re-built to protect the city, there was a concerted effort of volunteers by families for the building work.

Nehemiah 4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

Nehemiah may be described as a man who had a mind to work. And he motivated the people of God with that same mind to service in the vineyard of God, boldness in service unprecedented. The massive walls of Jerusalem were built in 52 days! It was a tremendous time of progress for God’s work when God’s people set their mind to work in a concerted effort. There was a great concentration of effort – the task at hand “Rebuilding the Broken Walls of Jerusalem”.

Piety and service are not compelled but voluntary. Titus was there at hand to carry the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church. He was forthcoming in volunteering his service for this mission, although it was the Apostle Paul who entrusted Titus with the letter.

2 Corinthians 8:16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

The Apostle Paul was thankful to God that He has put into the heart of Titus a heart to care for the Corinthian Church. A heart that the Apostle Paul can identify with in his care for this church. He termed it as “the same earnest care”. The phrase “earnest care” is one word in Greek that means “diligence, hastiness, earnest”. There is vibrant energy of God’s love that is according to God’s laws and filled with God’s anointing presence. Both Paul and Titus were God’s instrument of care for His people.

2 Corinthians 8:15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

The Apostle Paul quotes Exodus 16:18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

God provided manna to meet the shortage of food in the wilderness after Israel left Egypt.

God takes care of His people. All who trust in Him will find in Him their all-sufficiency. We can rest in the Lord’s care for us. The psalmist testifies in Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want. We shall have no lack who trust in our God.

2 Corinthians 8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

The Apostle Paul reasons that the church that is in need is to receive needful help from other able churches. This time the church in Jerusalem requires the help of the churches in Corinth and Macedonia. A time may come when the situation is reversed, at that time, the church in Jerusalem is expected to readily come forward to help the churches in Macedonia or Corinth. In that sense, there is equality.

Indeed, when Israel as in the wilderness, there was no food, God provided the needful supply throughout the 40 years. In that sense, the churches with resources by them are encouraged to help those in need.

2 Corinthians 8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

The encouragement by the Apostle Paul for the Corinthian church concerning their giving was not to put a financial strain upon them so that they would be impoverished and the Jerusalem church eased. [MacDonald]

The duty that the Apostle Paul presses upon the Corinthian church was to give according to their means. No doubt, their contribution may be more than the churches in Macedonia, he assured them it was a team effort with the other churches, the burden of the support is therefore shared. The principle is to give what they are able to with a willing heart and to complete the task.

2 Corinthians 8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

The Corinthian church was first to express the willingness to contribute to the support of the saints’ needs in Jerusalem. However, it’s been a year since and the work was not completed. Other churches are done with their contribution.

The Apostle Paul is nudging them on to the completion of it. He is urging them to not hesitate but be forthcoming in this good work. And this contribution should be according to the resources they have with them and not pledging their future income, which is not certain.

2 Corinthians 8:10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

The church in Corinth had begun a year ago to raise the funds to support the needy Christians in Jerusalem. The task that began was yet completed. The Apostle Paul writes here to encourage them to complete this good work. The churches in Macedonia have completed their part in the giving although they began later.

It is interesting that the Apostle Paul would make such an appeal. His reason is that it is spiritually profitable to the Corinthian church, this is the meaning of the word “expedient”. He reminded them, it is you, yourselves, who began this. It is to your credit that you would complete it. The Lord will be pleased.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Romans 15:1-2 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is highlighted by the Apostle Paul as our example. Christ gave Himself for us. As the God of heaven, Jesus put aside His glory to become a man and to suffer as a man so as to save sinful man and reconcile him to a holy God. Jesus gave everything, He is the most generous of all man who walked on earth.

He was so generous that He gave all He had for our sakes that we through His poverty might become eternally rich. [MacDonald]