The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 32

Paul commends those retrieving the gift and solicited their assistance for Precaution

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 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: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 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. Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. KJV

Finally, Paul thanks our Heavenly Father for giving a willing heart to Titus to lead the other two disciples (chosen by the Churches and by Paul) to make the long journey joyfully to retrieve the Corinthians love gift to the hurting and struggling brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. The names of these two other disciples has been speculated by many over these many years, but their individual identities is not of great importance, but what is important is that these two other brothers (along with Titus) were found to be faithful and trustworthy men by the Churches and by the Apostle Paul to carry out this important task. It is not enough that men be eager to perform a duty in the Church, but it is of much more importance the character of the men or women selected for a position, office, or duty in the fellowship.

We learned this lesson clearly from the Apostle Judas, who by all accounts in the Gospel writings had deceived all of his fellow Apostles (but of course he did not take our Lord Jesus by surprise (John 6:64 & John 6:70-71)). After our Lord Jesus had been crucified and risen from the dead and then ascended into Heaven, the Apostle John then saw clearly who Judas really was and wrote these words speaking of the man who pretended to care about the poor, “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?’ Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer or take what was put into it” (John 12:3-6).

Paul did not want to be the only person collecting, counting, and committing the Corinthians and all the other Churches money to Jerusalem believers. This is never a good or prudent thing to have just one person responsible for such an important office. Paul wanted no one inside the body of Christ or the unbelievers outside to have any cause to discredit his actions or intentions or to make an accusation of him using some of this money for his own personal greed. The temptations that come to man are common to all men (as Paul wrote himself in 1 Corinthians 10:12-14). Paul also being aware of what the Prophet Jeremiah wrote saying this, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) found it to be completely true in himself when he wrote this, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not” (Romans 7:18) and with this truth implanted in his heart, he wanted to take every precaution by having these other men go along to administer the love gift to the saints in Jerusalem. Paul wanted nothing to deprive the Jerusalem believers of every dollar of the long awaited and well needed aid furnished to them by our Lord Jesus Christ.

My own personal note: The great tragedy since our Lord Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is that there have been and are still at present many more Judas’ lurking and even thriving in many Churches stealing and robbing from the flock.

“In the management of charities a man ought carefully to avoid the least suspicion of avarice, self-interest, and unfaithfulness. How few persons are entirely free from the upbraidings’ of their own consciences in the matter of alms! But who will be able to hear the upbraidings’ of Christ at the time of death and judgment? No man can waste without injustice, or neglect without sin, those things of which he is only the dispenser and steward” Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…