Eagerness to Help
2 Corinthians 8:16-20
16Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.
Loneliest
Someone published online about struggling in loneliness. She said, “It feels lonely when you are struggling, and no one comes to comfort you because they think that you are always strong.” Not one, not two but many subscribers agreed and relate to being lonely alone in the ministry. One suggested to find other friends. Others commented, “It’s sad truth.”
Anyone may sense loneliness being alone. Being alone can be very challenging struggle. Anyone can be victimized by loneliness, and we wish that loved ones and friends could be nearby to comfort us.
If you feel lonely, remember what Christ declares in John 14:26-27, 26The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Loneliness may trouble us, but Christ commanded not to be troubled and not to be afraid, why? The term “afraid” is properly translated fear or timid. God sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts as antidote to trouble and fear. When troubled by loneliness or fear, we find peace in Christ. Reflect seriously on what it declares in 2 Timothy 1:7, 7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
It’s natural to be lonely when we are alone. It’s natural to be troubled when difficult problems trouble us. It’s natural to be scared of the future. When others observe and ask why we calmly relax despite confusion somewhere, we testify about it. We tell them that the Holy Spirit inspires us always so that love, joy, peace and self-discipline prevail despite problems.
Seriously together, let’s reflect on what 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 says,
17If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
There are many practical ways to help. The most significant we can do is to help others be reconciled to God, especially, our loved ones. When we help friends and relatives financially, they may praise and thank us.
But if we help them be reconciled to God, they will praise and thank God for us. And God has prepared a glorious crown for us in heaven. How many crowns had God prepared for us in heaven? There’re at least seven.
- Crown of Rejoicing is reward for reconciling others to God (evangelism)
- Crown of Glory is reward for disciples who make disciples devotedly.
- Crown of Splendor is reward for faithful service to God.
- Crown of Righteousness for righteously waiting for the return of Christ.
- Crown of Life for victory over temptation and endure persecution.
- Crown of Authority for authority and role in God’s kingdom.
- Incorruptible or Imperishable Crown for discipline to spiritual growth.
How many of these heavenly crowns do you expect to receive? The Lord promised these rewards for us to realize that he compensates service to him. Christ is returning sooner, and we expect to receive eternal crowns. Gladly serve the Lord diligently. That’s my challenge and appeal for us all.
1. Appeal
16Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
Titus visited again the Corinthians on his own initiative because when he visited them the first time, he was refreshed spiritually. Titus told Apostle Paul that by God’s grace, the Corinthians excelled in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in love.
What Titus reported about the Corinthians encouraged Paul and his team to endure the harassment they suffered wherever they preached the gospel. Paul appealed that the Corinthians should excel also in the grace of giving. He tested the sincerity of their desire to give. So, he mentioned that the Macedonians sacrificially gave beyond their ability to give, and even urgently pleaded to participate in the service to the Lord’s people.
Help
When we send help to needy believers around the world, we also need to be knowledgeable of practical help we could give. They reported that Bibles are needed in China. Arguably, they thought that bringing more Bibles in China is great idea since there were billions of Chinese people. Bringing Bibles into China is strictly prohibited by the Chinese government.
So, those who wish to bring Bibles into China have to be creative.
The truth is, China is the largest single producer of Bible in the world.
In China, anyone can buy Bibles from bookstores at the section of fictions. There are also different versions of the Bible including Chinese language.
Accordingly, there are more than 44 million registered Christians in China. Some of them may have Bibles, but those Christians need prayers to discreetly share the gospel to their loved ones. Pray for missionaries in the frontier to be cautious while they serve God among hostile people.
The Lord declared in Matthew 28:18-20, 18All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth. We accepted Christ as Lord therefore, we obey his command to go and make disciples. When we make disciples, Christ assures to be with us always. Practically when we make disciples, we don’t go alone. Christ is with us. We’ve got joy and peace, and we avoid loneliness. because the Holy Spirit accompanies us.
2. Accompany
18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19aWhat is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering,
Apostle Paul expected the Corinthians to excel in the grace of giving as practical proof of sincerity of their desire to send support to the needy believers in Judea. Titus was enthusiastic to visit the Corinthians again but this time, Paul sent along with him the brother who was praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. The churches chose this brother to accompany Paul to carry the collection for Judean believers. Who was he?
Many scholars agree that it was Timothy. Interestingly, Paul wrote and the beginning of his letter in 2 Corinthians 1:1, 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:
Paul mentioned Timothy’s name at the beginning of his letter, but he called him brother when he said that Titus initiated his next visit to Corinth, why? Possibly, Paul wanted the Corinthians to focus on the enthusiasm of Titus visiting them, and the coming of Timothy should not distract them. He may also hope that the Corinthians may also test the spirituality of Timothy.
How did the churches found Timothy worthy of praise? The churches praised Timothy for his service to the gospel. Timothy was young adult, but prayerfully, he excelled in the ministry. Which ministry does God wants us to excel in? Let’s reflect on 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
You may teach eloquently but others initiate to clean the floor. You may play musical instruments but others can sing. You may smile sweetly and others can cook tastily. Everyone has talent different from others. The Holy Spirit distributed gifts just as he determines our efficiency. Pray that the Holy Spirit inspires you to efficiently use the spiritual gift you received.
Seriously reflect on Ephesians 5:18-20, 18Be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Giving thanks to God for everything includes being thankful to serve him. We believe that God is love. His command is our guide to experience his love. We can explore God’s love for us when we obey him. We love to obey God without hesitation when the Holy Spirit produces love in us.
Obeying God is his preferred service we administer to honor him.
3. Administer
19bWe carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.
We are commanded to regularly give the right portion of God and our offering with willingness. We elect church leaders to administer and allocate smartly the church finances to different church ministries, here and abroad.
The church supports mission ministries but we can decide individually to send support to mission from our pockets. We don’t need to inform the church. Certainly, God blesses us for personal decision to support mission.
Together, let’s reflect on Romans 10:13-15 13Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
We pray and support workers we know who serve in the ministry or missions. May God blesses us to be generously hospitable. May God call missionaries, evangelists, preachers, pastors, teachers from among us.
If you introduce yourself as Christian and they say, “Tell us about your service to the gospel of Christ,” what will you say? Let’s learn for Gaius.
Gaius
The name Gaius means “happy” or “one who rejoices.” Gaius was gifted with hospitality. Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 16:23, 23Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.
Apostle Paul testified that they enjoyed the hospitality of Gaius. The family of Gaius may have supported Apostle Paul and his mission team. And then later, Gaius himself joined Paul in his mission. Some scholars suggests that the Gaius who was baptized by Paul was the same Gaius the elder who became friend of Apostle John. Reflect on what Apostle John wrote about Gaius in 3 John 1:1, 5-8, 1The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth… 5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
Apostle John recognized the hospitality of his friend Gaius toward the brothers and sisters who visited the church. Gaius grew mature spiritually and served as church elder. Nomination for church leaders is near. Your nomination as church leader, could be God’s call. Be prayerful. Leadership ministry is an opportunity to store up eternal treasures for yourselves.
Jesus Christ our Lord is coming sooner than we expect. Maranatha.
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