Second Corinthians 8:22

The Bible says in Second Corinthians 8:22, “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.” Paul is continuing to speak of those in whom he had trusted to carry the money that was given by the churches. Twice in this verse something very important is mentioned about the ones who were chosen. Twice they are said to be “diligent.” To be diligent means to be earnest, active, and zealous. If someone is diligent, it means that they put a lot of energy and enthusiasm and care into the tasks and responsibilities that have come their way. The Bible is a very practical book. ”He that does not work, does not eat.” “Go to the ant, thou sluggard, and consider her ways.” Proverbs 21:5 says, “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.” Proverbs 22:29 says, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before average men.”

If you are a diligent person, you just might be given a job to do for the Lord. If you are given a work to do for Him, then that means you are a messenger. That is what Paul called these servants of the Lord in Second Corinthians 8:23. It says, “Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you; or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.” Paul said several things about these messengers. He said that Titus was his partner and fellow-helper. Never forget that Christianity was not meant to be a one-man show. It was meant to be a team effort. By yourself you can accomplish a few things. United with others you can accomplish much, much more. One of the great failings of the church in these last days is the inability of Christians to work together and to welcome others to join in their work. A preacher can preach, but he cannot do all of the other things that must be done to help a congregation grow and to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel.

Paul viewed those who worked with him as his partners and fellow-helpers, and he also viewed them in an even closer way. That is why he called them brothers. There are people in this world, Christian people, who will never let anyone get too close to them. Even though they are Christians, they will not ever regard another person as their brother: not really. These kinds of people will always do more for their own family than they would ever do for another Christian. But Paul was actually able to regard other Christians as his brothers and sisters because he was not married and had no family. His family was his brothers and sisters in Christ. You should strive to view other believers as your brothers and sisters in Christ.

There is one more thing that Paul said about his partners and fellow-workers. He said they were “messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.” The word that is translated “messengers” means “those that are sent on a mission.” The most important part of that mission is to bring glory to the name of Christ: not to bring glory to their own name by speaking of themselves, and not to bring glory to some other person by honoring or praising or glorifying some person. Bring glory to Christ because He deserves all the glory and the honor and the praise. No one else deserves it. Jesus the King of Kings deserves to be honored above every name because His love took Him to the cross for the sins of the world.

In Second Corinthians 8:24 Paul wrote, “Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.” Paul is still talking about giving, and he calls giving “the proof of your love.” You can say that you have Christian love for someone, but if you keep saying it and never do anything for someone, it does not mean much. Eventually you must prove that you love them. You can say that you love Christ, but if you never give up any thing for Him, that means that you do not love Him the way that you said that you did.

Continuing to talk about giving, the Bible says in Second Corinthians 9:1-5, “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, you may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof you had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.” Paul is still talking about the “ministering to the saints.” Other believers had fallen on hard times due to persecutions and tribulations that had come into their lives. Paul wanted to do everything that he could to help them, and right now the biggest thing that they needed was money. He was determined to get that money for them: not for the sake of the money but for the sake of the believers who desperately needed the money. Paul reminded them that he was not doing this out of “covetousness.” There are preachers today who take up great collections and who have become very wealthy because of it. Much of the money that they collected has not gone to where they said it would go. Watch out for them. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

When we think of the Apostle Paul, we think of his writings, his missionary journeys, his energy, his determination, and his personal sufferings for the cause of Christ. But we should never forget that one of the main characteristics of Paul’s ministry was this continued and faithful involvement wherever he went in taking up collections so that he could use that money for what he called “ministering to the saints.” Paul at one time made a commitment to help people who were in a certain needy situation. As time went by he remembered that commitment, and he carried through on it. He was a man of his word. His heart was true. He was true to God, he was true to himself, and he was true to his fellowman: and all of this because of his relationship with Jesus.

Notice what Paul said to the Corinthians in Second Corinthians 9:2. He said, “Your zeal has provoked very many.” This principle does not just apply to giving: it applies to everything. Human beings are very social creatures. They learn from and are affected by the people that they are around. That is why First Corinthians 15:33 says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” That is also one of the reasons that Second Corinthians 6:14 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” The goal that we all should have is to influence others for good, instead of them influencing us for evil. One way to do that is to be a very individualistic person who is determined to serve God no matter who is present. “Take the name of Jesus with you, child of weakness and of woe.” Do what the Corinthians did: be zealous in serving Christ in the things that He gives you to do, and your zeal will rub off on others.

In Second Corinthians 9:6 the Bible says, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” This is a basic principle of nature. God is the intelligence behind nature. Therefore, the lessons to be learned from nature are spiritual lessons. If two men each have ten rows of corn to plant and one plants five rows and the other plants all ten rows, guess which one will reap the most at harvest time? The same is true about serving God. Do not forget that the judgment is the goal, and you are hoping to hear the Lord say some good things about your life. The more good things that you do, the more good things that the Lord will say about you at the judgment of believers. You are saved by grace alone through Christ, but believers will be judged in order to determine what their rewards will be in heaven. The point that Paul is making is that this includes what you do with your money.

If and when you do decide to give some of your money, make sure that you do it according to the principle of Second Corinthians 9:7 that says, “Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” There are two important things to notice from this verse about giving. The first is a restatement of the principle that was given in Second Corinthians 8:8 when Paul said about giving, “I speak this not by commandment.” “Every man according as he purposes in his heart.” No one should ever tell you what to give or what to give to. It is your decision between you and the Lord. Once you decide to give, make sure that you do it willingly, gladly, and cheerfully. Do not do anything grudgingly. That spoils it. If you help someone or give to them grudgingly, you might as well have not done it. “God loves a cheerful giver.”

The Bible says in Second Corinthians 9:8-9, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. As it is written, He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever.” The first part of these verses says, “God is able.” You are not able to do the things that really need to be done in your life. People think that they are in control, but they are not. Without God you can do nothing. God is able. He is able to deliver you. He is able to supply your needs. He is able to guide you. He is able to protect you. He is able to use you. God is able to give to you so that you will have everything that you need, both for yourself and to give to others. When this passage says, “He has given to the poor,” it is talking about God. The way that God gives to the poor is by giving to them through you. If you are willing to give, then you share in the work and share in the blessings. You become a messenger of God of the substance that He has put into your hands.

The Bible says in Second Corinthians 9:10-11, “Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which cause through us thanksgiving to God.” There are two important needs in life: physical needs and the need of fulfillment: the need to accomplish something meaningful. Because God will supply all your need, He will supply both of these things if you trust Him. Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” God will supply your need, and He will probably supply over and above what you actually need. That is why this verse speaks of being “enriched,” and speaks of “bountifulness.”

Notice the phrase “the fruits of your righteousness.” This refers to the fact that if you do what is right, there will be good consequences to follow. One of the great lies of the world is that you will benefit from doing wrong. That is not true. The wages of sin is death. There are many inappropriate activities and life-styles that are held forth as being desirable by the people of the world. Be careful to whom you listen. Some of those activities are very destructive. Do not be fooled. You need to bear the fruits of righteousness more than you know.

Paul wrote in Second Corinthians 9:13-15, “While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” Paul is telling the Corinthians how thankful were the poor Christians for what was being done for them. They glorified God. They prayed for them. They saw that the exceeding grace of God was in them. Always learn to be thankful and to appreciate what someone does for you. There may be nothing worse than an unthankful person.

If you have been saved through faith in Christ, then you always have the most important thing to be thankful for: your salvation. Paul said, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” No one can take that from you. Every day you can look up to the Lord and thank Him for so great salvation. If you have not received the unspeakable gift of salvation through Christ, today you can turn from your sins and turn to Jesus.

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