Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(2Co 9:5)  Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.   As in all things that we do, there needs to be the matter of “right thinking”. Two attitudes are given regarding this offering: there is a need (bounty: as in a blessing offered), or there is not (covetousness: fraudulent offering). The Holy Spirit is stressing that this offering is because there was a true need.

(2Co 9:2) “For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.”  To send money to meet the needs of others was at first very much in their hearts. Yet, such a desire has a tendency over time to lose its zeal, just as many lose their fervency towards serving the Lord. The Lord knows this, so He seeks to use others and His Word to spur us towards where we should be spiritually.

(2Co 9:1) “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:”  “Superfluous”: excessive; thus really not needful.  Paul’s heart towards them in this matter is more along the line of “let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phil 2:3). But remember, the Holy Spirit is urging and directing the penning of these words. He knows our hearts and thus our true need (Rom 8:26-27), so these continued words.

(2Co 8:24) “Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.”  The Holy Spirit is not here or anywhere or anytime encouraging people to act or do falsely. He seeks genuine conduct of one who truly loves the Lord and is thankful for the tremendous price paid for their salvation.  May He find such in each heart of the truly saved!

(2Co 8:23) “Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.”  “…Titus, he is my partner….”  Although Paul led men, he did not treat them as underlings, but as partners in the ministry. From the layman’s position, the pastor is the leader. From the pastor’s position, they are cherished partners, “….and the glory of Christ.”

(2Co 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.”  “Our brother”. I believe the word “our” is referencing that this man is a Corinthian Believer.  When taken as such the “much more diligent” makes sense. He would naturally be spurred to greater faithfulness dealing with those he especially knows.

(2Co 8:20) “Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: (21)  Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”  Accountability can be seen elsewhere in the Bible. When Ezra left Persia for Jerusalem with a large amount of gold given by the many exiled Israelites, he first weighed it to members of the priesthood before departing and then weighted it again when collected upon arrival at Jerusalem. Such honest dealings in the sight of men is right and prudent.

(2Co 8:19) “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:”  By this we can see accountability when handling money. “You mean, they didn’t trust Paul?” Friend, (1Co_10:13)  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:…” One given such responsibility should insist on accountability for their own testimony’s sake.

(2Co 8:18) “And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;”  If you and I are to receive any praise, is it not because of the result of the Gospel? We are each gifted by grace the salvation of our eternal soul from hell. We are then gifted with the Holy Spirit Who in turn gifts us special abilities to further the gospel. Any praise received is God’s “in” the Gospel!