Be Honorable (2 Cor. 8:16-24) *All Verses in NLT*
– In 2 Corinthians Chapter 8, Paul has been talking about generous giving, and taking up a collection for the poor and persecuted saints in Jerusalem.
– Corinth isn’t the only church Paul is organizing a collection from… (Macedonia, Galatia…)
– 1 Cor 16:1-3, Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 3 When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem.
– This isn’t “tithing”, this is relief of the poor and persecuted… this is an offering, above the tithe.
– As we have talked about the last few weeks, the principles of giving are the same:
– Get saved first! Remember, these letters from Paul are to “the church”.
– Give out of willing generosity… It is a blessing to participate in God’s ministry and mission.
– Decide in your heart. Make a plan. Give out of what you have, not what you DON’T have… (Example: Whenever giving or serving is preached, those already doing it feel compelled to do even more… The message is for those who are NOT doing it at all!)
– 2 Cor. 8:10-12, Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
– Example: This concept reminds me of charitable/missions giving…
– Americans are comparatively “rich” and “free”, and when we give in proportion to what we have, it can be very significant in the hands of those Christians struggling overseas…
– $40 per month in Sierra Leone (COTN) can sponsor a child, getting them food, care, and Chirstian education… what can $40 a month do here?
– FVC supports Pakistan, who is successfully spreading the gospel in the 10/40… Can you give to our Missions program “in proportion to what you have”? …$20 per month…?
– 100 families x $100 per month = $10k… FVC could fund entire ministries overseas…
– Paul is sending Titus and 2 other faithful brothers to collect the gift. (They are, in fact, there currently, as they are the ones delivering this letter that the people are now reading…)
– 2 Cor. 8:6-7, So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us —I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
Tonight’s verses:
– 2 Cor. 8:16-24, But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. 17 Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 18 We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. 19 He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.
20 We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.
22 We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. 23 If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. 24 So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.
– There are 2 main themes in the passage:
- Paul makes a big deal about the quality of the people he is sending to them, and…
- Paul wants to be sure that they are being honorable before God, and men.
– I want to focus on Verse 21, “We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.”
honorable
- Titus is an example of being an honorable servant before God, and men.
– Look how Paul describes Titus and the other men he is sending:
– Titus is enthusiastic and willing, and Paul’s partner in ministry.
– The other brothers: Appointed by the churches, praised preachers of the Good News, proven themselves on many occasions, eager and enthusiastic to serve…
– Titus was the example, and a trusted leader. (Paul’s true son in the faith. Titus 1:4)
– Titus was a gentile convert who served as one of Paul’s trusted assistants. Titus is an example of the Gentile converts who were so deeply touched by the Good News of Christ that they left their homes and devoted their lives to assisting Paul in the spreading the Gospel.
Titus 2:1-2, As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.
Titus 2:6-8, In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
– Paul teaches Titus to be the model example of a Christian leader, so HIS teaching will be taken seriously and can’t be criticized because his integrity will be unquestionable!
– Titus is to teach other men to be worthy of respect, exercise self-control, faithful and patient, live wisely… (I love this! With us coming off the men’s advance, teaching RAL-E…)
– Example: Many say they have been called to big things/leadership by God, but they are not displaying the character necessary to be successful or honoring to God in their lives currently…
– Like someone wanting to be an aCO but act like a problem as a FF… once you take on leadership, you can not switch back without losing all respect.
– Like “In a Pit, With a Lion, on a Snowy Day”, one challenge prepares you for the next, and builds you to where God needs you to be to successful in His mission for you in the future…
– Example: When I go through a hard situation, I remind myself that I want to look back on this moment and have honored God with how I handled it… It guides me through…
- Application: How can WE live a life honorable before the Lord, and men?
– Remember that others are watching you! They are comparing your “Christian” words with your everyday actions, and seeing if they match up… You are either proving the gospel changes lives, or damaging your witness.
– How do you treat/talk about your spouse? How do you use your time at work? How do you talk about those you disagree with, behind their back? Are you generous? Are you above reproach…?
– “Reject passivity”, as Pastor John Cantu put it, the opposite of passive is not action, it is mission… (explain this more, and give example of what this looks like…)
– James 1:19-22, Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
– James 1:26-27, If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
– 1 Peter 2:12, Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
– Col 4:5-6, Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive* so that you will have the right response for everyone.
– Attractive: Literally “seasoned with salt”, in other words speak wisely, consider how your words are being received, it’s not about you “being heard”, it’s about the Gospel being understood…
– These are just some of the ways the Bible teaches us to live honorably in this crazy world…
Conclusion:
– It’s not prideful to be openly Christian, and have values, standards, and boundaries… But it must be done with right heart condition/motives…
– Matt 5:15-16, No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
– Be Honorable! WE should be “careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable,” So that God will receive the glory and praise!
– Let the light of Christ shine through you…
honorable
– prayer –
