Missions Paul

In aligning our lives with that of Christ we need to continually choose different courses of actions and words. Paul did.

“There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we – not to say anything about you – would be ashamed of having been so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭

He could have said, “You didn’t follow through on your promise.” But he chose to see them through eyes of faith not disappointment, “for I know your eagerness to help.”

What about us? How do we speak of people? 

When we know how Christ sees us despite our failings and weaknesses then the response is we step into the space given to us to grow.

He could have said, “I’m sending my team to make you comply.” But he chose softness. He would rather have their heart than their hand. “I am sending the brothers … that you may be ready, as I said you would be.”

What about us? If you are a leader, do you manipulate or even forcefully demand obedience? It’s not the heart of our Father. He could demand and enforce. He rather sends His Spirit to work in our hearts through transformation.

He could have said, “if these Macedonians, who began to give because of your commitment to give, find out you haven’t yet given, I will have egg on my face.” But actually he was equally concerned and more about them than himself. Their reputation, credibility and testimony was under threat and he desired to keep their honour intact. Christ made himself nothing for us. Christ was criticised, slandered, attacked and crucified, for us. It was never about His reputation but His life was about us. 

I’m staying with this same passage we read yesterday. The apostle Paul faced the task of managing finances, overseeing projects and being responsible for other people’s investments. 

It was a fund-raiser for the struggling Christians in Jerusalem.

What we see are timeless principles to live by, whether we are leaders or not. But if you want to be a leader then these are essential principles.

“Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honour the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭24‬ ‭

1. Transparency. Not when problems arise and not when there’s an enquiry but from day one throughout life to the last day. Let people see your life. “We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.”
2. Community. Keep choosing people to walk with you. There may be exits but always recruit. Build constantly the community around you who align with your values. “Titus ….the brother … our brother.”
3. Rationale. Explain it. Especially if people are going to be impacted by the decisions you make. “we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”
4. Scrutiny. Plan for it. Your life will be rightly examined, for how can anything be proven if it’s not been put in the refiners fire? “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.” 
5. Honour. Give it. Especially to those who help you, who are around you and part of your team of life. “As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you.”

We can be thankful for Paul’s handling of the money and his approach to his leadership giving us powerful principles for our own lives. 

Paul knew that financial accountability was so important for his own credibility as a church leader. Today it is no different. There can be nothing worse for the testimony of a Pastor or leader than financial irregularity, profiting from the church unfairly, all of which falls under the commandment of Do Not Steal. 

“Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honour the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭16-24‬ 

Paul did his best to distance himself from the money. This is the inspiration, if we needed it, for the Pastor not to be treasurer. Many years ago, as a Pastor of a small church, I remember being the only person available to take the offering to deposit in the bank. The treasurer had done all the accounting, all I had to do was hand the bag over. Whilst I was standing in the queue, I had a thought, I wonder who writes cheques for the church. The Holy Spirit there and then advised me not to look. I looked. I couldn’t believe it. I found a cheque from a prominent member whose cheque was for £25.99. I kept saying to myself “£25.99! Why did he write it for the 0.99 pence? Why not make it £26?! I began to have all kinds of thoughts and by the time I got to the counter to pay in the £25.99 along with the other cheques I was quite frustrated! As I left the bank, the Holy Spirit said, “I told you not to look.” I never did look again for all the years that came as a Pastor. Distance from the church money is crucial for a Pastor’s happiness.

Paul was at pains to make sure everyone knew though he was the promoter of the collection he wasn’t personally handling it.

He was sending three people:-

Titus – everyone knew him as a leader and fellow worker with Paul

A ‘brother’ – praised by all the churches for his gospel work. Chosen by the churches to accompany not only Paul, but the money.

Another ‘brother’ – The Message speaks of this man using the words dependable for zealous. Paul is communicating that in this man there is a trustworthiness and a heart for God not just integrity over the money. 

Staying with the Message there is a lovely line which says, “We don’t want anyone suspecting us of taking one penny of this money for ourselves.” 

This whole section is a powerful leadership lesson for all who are responsible for our churches. 

1. Protect the leader from suspicion. Put distance between the leader and money given as an offering to God. 
2. Protect the leader from isolation. Place people around them that can hold them and their responsibility accountable.
3. Protect the leader from separation from God. There are many temptations. The people around the leader must carry all the kingdom characteristics that keep a healthy culture, not only for the church but for the leader also.

The Church in Jerusalem was experiencing hardship and its counterpart in Corinth had the financial resource to help them.

What would Paul the leader do?

Would he simply command the church in Corinth to give to solve the problem? 

Commanding or forcing doesn’t necessarily produce the willingness of heart. It was this that Paul was seeking.

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’” 2 Corinthians‬ 8‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭

Paul doesn’t want the Corinthians to be struggling as Jerusalem is relieved of their struggles. That’s not the kind of giving Paul is focused on. Solving problems by creating new ones isn’t solving problems. 

Paul wants equality. The Message says he wanted God’s people to stand, “shoulder to shoulder.” There are times for plenty and times for need. Paul is building a network of people who have both experiences of contribution and receiving from each other. Leaders who can build this into their churches and organisations are creating healthy cultures for everyone. Those cultures are filled with relationships that are beneficial for all and not just for a few. We live in a world where it seems the rich get richer, the strong get stronger, the poor get poorer and the weak get weaker. In the healthy Church this does not exist. 

Paul uses the story in Exodus 16 of God providing the Manna. His point is that when God did this everyone had enough. The point is not that a few had enough but the whole community flourished as they all had enough.

How do you measure success in this life? Is it your own achievement? Or is there another measure you use? Is it how everyone in your life are also flourishing and achieving? Is it based on how much you have been able to help but also how much you gratefully received from the same people you previously had invested in? This equality is the success Paul was seeking and what should be at the heart of every Christian and Church. 

One of the most important things to a happy life is to not compare yourself with others but to live your own life with authenticity. 

“And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬-‭12‬

What needs finishing? What have you started? Maybe you were the first to show the initiative but after a sprint to begin with, you then slowed down and now you’ve stopped altogether. In my travels around the world I have seen many houses, churches and all kinds of buildings half-built, just standing there on the side of the road, unfinished. 

The Corinthians had begun to give towards the need last year and Paul encourages them to complete it. 

Finish the task. That’s the call for all of us and not just towards giving. To run our lane is to keep focused on our calling, vocation, our rhythm of life and our contribution to this world. 

There’s one other thing that I’m meditating on. It is what Paul says in v12. He tells them to focus on what they have not what they don’t have. To run my lane is to acknowledge what’s in my hand, my gifting, abilities, the grace God has given me. You don’t need to look across the lanes to see what others have. You have all you need to run your lane and finish the race. 

To be authentic and run your lane is to focus  on finishing well and to focus on who you are and what is in your hand. 

Paul wants the Corinthian church to give but he is not coercing them. He gives two examples. The first has been the poor and struggling Macedonians. Here comes the second, the rich (like they were), the Lord Jesus Christ.

Though Paul is not telling them anything they don’t know, “for you know”, what he does say has to be one of the most beautiful things he wrote, especially if you read it alongside Philippians 2.

“I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭8‬-‭9‬z

The Lord Jesus Christ was rich, meaning He was existing before His birth in Bethlehem. He was rich because in His pre-existent state He possessed everything, for He is God.

He became poor, meaning He became human, He dwelt amongst us and He died on the cross and rose again.

Paul reminds us that as we live our life through His life we begin to experience the richness of God.

Our salvation experience is declared within this text. Thankful for His salvation of our lives through His work on the cross and resurrection.

But (and this is Paul’s application) our giving should imitate the way Christ gave Himself. Our spirit of generosity mirrors Christ’s. That’s why we give. 

“So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ 

Paul urged Titus to finish what he had begun. Titus had been commissioned for a task in Corinth. He was to bring a report on how they had responded to Paul’s severe letter. Inspired by the church in Macedonia, who despite their poor and difficult circumstances entered into the collection for the poor in Jerusalem, he now says how the impact on him meant he had urged Titus to make sure the Corinthians also moved in grace. “Complete the task” was Titus’ responsibility and Paul urged him to do just that. 

Paul then begins to praise them for many things, faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness and love. They were excelling in these things. Quite a statement. He is leading to asking them to be involved in the collection but first he wants them to know he is pleased with everything else. He actually doesn’t ask them to give but masterfully tells them to excel in giving in the same way they have excelled in other areas. People who feel valued are more likely to be involved in the stretch of new areas. 

Some leaders simply demand more and make it clear they’re wanting more from those they lead. Paul wasn’t doing this. He cultivated excellence in people by helping them see they are of those who pursue it. There is a huge difference between demanding people do what you want and calling them to become all that they can be. 

For you, take a look at those areas you also excel in, maybe they are the same list as the Corinthians. How did you begin to be so good in those graces? Can you use the same commitment and the same desire to excel in the areas the Holy Spirit shows you?

Paul was collecting for missions work. It was for the poor in Jerusalem. When it came to the Macedonians they didn’t need to be asked, in fact, Paul wasn’t expecting them to give. But they begged to be included in the offering. Paul didn’t need to say anything for it was they who raised the issue of giving. 

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: they gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭5

How can we give beyond our ability to give? These Christians had been to the cross and seen what Christ had done for them. They had surrendered to Christ first and when we do that then we cannot hold back anything. Remember this is not some project around the corner. They are not giving to benefit themselves. This is for a group of people they have never met all the way over in Jerusalem. 

Grace travels miles. 

If we ever want evidence for the grace of God then it can be seen in the grace we share with others especially when it’s miles away and so unconditional. 

Today there will be an opportunity to give. When it comes think of the Macedonians.

So often what tries to influence our lives is possessions and circumstances. But the economy of the kingdom is different. This is what Paul encourages the Corinthian Church by focusing them on the Macedonians.

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭2

How can severe trial produce rich generosity? 

How can they have overflowing joy as well as being extremely poor? 

Only if true giving isn’t based upon whether circumstances are good or not. 

Only if true joy isn’t based on our possessions.

Christ changes perspectives on circumstances. As we follow Him we see the world differently. We are not immune to trouble but He gives us the victory.

When the grace of God is experienced then what follows is always overflowing and a welling up of generosity.