THREE IS BETTER THAN ONE (2 CORINTHIANS 8:16-24)
Contemporary research showed a profound connection between giving, altruism and happiness.
For example, a new study revealed that executives who gave their bonuses away to help others returned greater happiness scores than those who kept the extra money. Students given $20 in an experiment had higher happiness ratings when they spent the money on someone who needed it rather than on themselves.
Sobriety rates among recovering alcoholics were higher among those who followed the 12th step in the Alcoholics Anonymous program - helping other alcoholics. Depression rates among sufferers of multiple sclerosis fell among those who made a brief “compassion” phone call to members of a control group with the condition. (Helping Others the Key to Happiness)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/helping-others-the-key-to-happiness/2008/05/09/1210131264157.html
The church in Macedonia is famed for its generosity and contribution to the needs of the saints. When they saw a need, they offered treasures as well as talent, money as well as men, for the job. A team of three offered to go to meet the church in Corinth, inviting them to do the same and help the relief effort.
When people have needs, how should we respond? Do you harden you heart or hide your talents? Why is giving better than receiving?
Welcome the Challenge
16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. (2 Cor 8:16-17)
One dark night outside a small town, a fire started inside the local chemical plant. Before long it exploded into flames and an alarm went out to fire departments from miles around. After fighting the fire for over an hour, the chemical company president approached the fire chief and said, “All of our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved! I will give 50,000 to the engine company that brings them out safely!”
As soon as the chief heard this, he ordered the firemen to strengthen their attack on the blaze. After two more hours of attacking the fire, president of the company offered $100,000 to the engine company that could bring out the company’s secret files. From the distance a long siren was heard and another fire truck came into sight. It was a local volunteer fire company composed entirely of men over 65. To everyone’s amazement the little fire engine raced through the chemical plant gates and drove straight into the middle of the inferno. In the distance the other firemen watched as the old timers hopped off of their rig and began to fight the fire with an effort that they had never seen before.
After an hour of intense fighting the volunteer company had extinguished the fire and saved the secret formulas. Joyous the chemical company president announced that he would double the reward to $200,000 and walked over to personally thank each of the volunteers.
After thanking each of the old men individually the president asked the group what they intended to do with the reward money. The fire truck driver looked him right in the eye and said, “The first thing we’re going to do is fix the brakes on that truck!”
What is the “heart of Titus” (v 16)? Paul never used the phrase “heart of so and so” on any single individual or talked up anyone’s heart in the epistles except for Titus. It was a heart of concern (spoude). Titus was concerned for the church in Corinth. “Concern” (v 16) is a key word (vv 7, 8, 16) that occurs three times in the chapter, more than any chapter in the Bible, and is translated as “complete earnestness” in verse 7 and “earnestness” in verse 8. KJV translates it as diligence (v 7), forwardness (v 8) and earnest care (v 16). The variety of meaning excites me more than it exasperates me, making it more encouraging than discouraging.
The noun “spoude” or “concern” from which the English word “speed” is derived, implies speedy and swift, not slow or sluggish, to act. This word dominates 2 Corinthians more than any book in the Bible, occurring fives times, translated on the other two occasions as eagerness (2 Cor 7:11) and devoted (2 Cor 7:12). Titus had a heart of gold in his concern for others.
Spoude (NIV on left, KJV on right)
Mark 6:25, Luke 1:39 hurried haste
Rom 12:8, Heb 6:11 diligently diligence
Rom 12:11 zeal in business
2 Cor 7:11
2 Cor 8:8 earnestness
earnestness carefulness
forwardness
2 Cor 7:12 devoted care
2 Cor 8:7 complete earnestness diligence,
2 Cor 8:16 concern earnest care
2 Peter 1:5 effort diligence
2 Peter 1:10, Jude 3 eager diligence
As you can see Titus had a tremendous attitude of concern and care for others, involving himself in the project wholeheartedly and not halfheartedly, not holding back or having second thoughts. Instead of exasperation, excuses and exemptions, he was eager, earnest, enthusiastic, energetic and excited to help others.
The attitude of Titus was one of “concern,” but his two actions in Greek (v 17) are as big as his heart: (1) welcomed our appeal, and (2) “coming” to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. First, he accepted the appeal or exhortation (KJV) to be sent to Corinth. Second Corinthians is the book of encouragement/appeal or “exhortation” in the Bible. It occurs eleven times in the book (more than the nearest four times in Acts), translated as comfort (2 Cor 1:3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 2 Cor 7:7), encouraged (2 Cor 7:4, 13), pleaded (2 Cor 8:4) and appeal (2 Cor 8:17). The word occurs previously occurred in verse 4, where the church in Macedonia “pleaded” with Paul for the privilege of giving to the saints (2 Cor 8:4), but Titus went one better. He accepted the plea or petition not just give money but give himself, his time and attention, offering to travel to Corinth. Sometimes in church it is easier to stay put than to go out, easier to grow than to go.
The second defining action of Titus was that he went with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. “Much enthusiasm” (spoudaioteros) in verse 17 occurs for its only time in the Bible but it has the same root word with “concern” (spoude) in verse 6. “On his own initiative” comes from two words – “himself” (autos) and “choice” (hairetizo). The latter word occurs one other time in the Bible, for the same believers in Macedonia who, “entirely on their own,” urgently pleaded with Paul for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints (2 Cor 8:3-4). Titus was infected and caught the right spirit of the church in Macedonia. He was not sent out, pushed out or forced out; he inquired and volunteered.
Work in Tandem
18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What 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. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. (2 Cor 8:18-21)
Once I was invited to sing for a church anniversary carnival in our neighborhood. Instinctively I invited two other coworkers to sing one of my favorite songs The Impossible Dream. One of the coworkers bought a US$5 music score with three parts – two tenors and one bass. After skipping choir for more than ten years, it was difficult to learn the parts and hold my part when the others sang. Thanks to modern technology and a new phone I recorded bit parts of the tenor to practice.
We had a hard time rehearsing our parts with the band two days before the big day, so on the day of the carnival I called for another practice. On the day of the event, only the bass did a good job. I fluffed my lines and could not hold on to the tenor part. It did not help that one of the previous singers fainted on the stage. No one focused on the song in the commotion.
What does teamwork mean? It means that without team, it is merely work. It also means that the team must be involved. For teamwork to work, the team has to put in work.
Titus did not have a Messiah complex, thinking he could solve the problems of the church or individuals by himself. Everybody needs somebody, so the church sent help. The verb “send” (sumpempo) appears only in this chapter (2 Cor 8:18, 22) in the Bible. It means joint-sending or sending collectively, more than one person. Titus was joined by two outstanding coworkers. The first person was praised by all the churches, plural, for his service to the gospel (v 18). To be praised by all (v 18) is an impossibility nowadays because of the customer service mentality that has invaded the church. What is all? Young and old, men and women, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor. This is a more intense word of praise (epainos). In Romans 13:3, it is translated as “commend,” like recommendation. To be commended means to be spoken favorably or highly by people, to be applauded or acclaimed.
The word “criticism” (v 20) occurs only in 2 Corinthians (2 Cor 6:3 “discredited”), so you can imagine the task ahead. Paul had no lack of people pointing fingers and finding fault with him. They were fans of Apollos and not Paul. They needed someone who is fair and friendly, relational and respectable.
Warm the Hearts
22 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. (2 Cor 8:22)
On August 4, 2010, Chinese-immigrant Betty Chinn (???) and 12 other nameless U.S. citizens received the 2010 United States Presidential Citizen’s Medal from President Obama at the White House, which honored their selfless services. The Presidential Citizen’s Medal and is one of the highest honors a president can ascribe.
The only Asian in the group, Chinn grew up attending a church in her village in China and both of her parents were devout Christians. Her father was a dentist learned under Western education and her mother was a doctor. Ever since her childhood she realized the principle of helping others, she said, which were taught by her Christian parents.
During her childhood, she lived through the Cultural Revolution in China and was greatly traumatized, which left her homeless. After immigrating to United States, she silently lived out love and compassion, silently helped the poor in the last 24 years. With the salary earned from work at her children’s school, she has helped hundreds of homeless people.
In the beginning, Chinn would drive to places in search of the homeless people living under bridges, beside the railroads, and even in the bushes to give them food. Most of these people are mentally-ill, veterans, run-away youths, and drug-users. She has been serving in this field for around 15 years. On September 2006, with the help of many, she raised $40,000 and purchased a blue mini-truck equipped with heating system, so she can serve others while meeting the standards of the United States health department.
http://www.gospelherald.net/article/mcat/46552/chinese-american-christian-betty-chinn-receives-2010-presidential-citizen-s-medal.htm
The first helper (v 18)is praised and the second person is proven, what a combination. How was the person proven? The first was praised by all churches, but the second was proven in many (v 22) things often, or many times in Greek. “Zealous” (spoudaios) is not altogether strange word; it is an extension of the word “concern” (v 16). So we can see how dependable and solid the second brother was. Proven means examine, passing the test, good for all seasons – winter, spring, summer and fall. Not easily discouraged, defeated, distracted, displeased. To be undaunted, unflagging, unnerved.
The third P is positive. “More so” is more diligent (spoudaioteron) in KJV.
This team is unbeatable and unequaled. The amazing thing about the word “confidence” is that four of its six references in the Bible are in 2 Corinthinas (2 Cor 1:15, 3:4, 8:22, 10:2, Eph 3:12, Phil 3:4). This time it trumps all because the brother has great confidence, not mere confidence. Not great confidence in projects, but people. Having great confidence in the immature Corinth church is the biggest leap of faith! The words “many,” “more” and “great” in verse 22 are the same word. So Paul has run out of words to qualify this man’s tremendous contribution and benefit to the church in Corinth.
Paul’s endorsement of Titus knew no limits. He gave him the highest accolade by calling him “my partner and fellow worker” (2 Cor 8:23) and as representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. Paul never personally called anyone “my partner” (koinonos), not even his favorite son spiritual Timothy, just as James and John were Simon's fishing partners (Luke 5:10). It is from this word that we have the word for fellowship koinonia. KJV translates the word four times as partakers (Matt 23:30, 1 Cor 10:18, 2 Cor 1:7, 1 Peter 5:1, 2 Peter 1:4), twice as partners (Luke 5:10, Philem 17), once for fellowship (1 Cor 10:20) and companion (Heb 10:33).
As partners they share things in common. A partner means equal, could decide things by himself. Today’s partners mean power. A partner is one who shares the same mission, vision and passion. They have people’s needs and nurture in mind.
Paul was the first person to use this word “fellow worker” in the Bible. Unlike other apostles, Paul popularized the term and credited his fellow workers. The first known fellow workers of Paul are none other than Priscilla and Aquila (Rom 16:3). Other more famous fellow workers of Paul are Timothy (Rom 16:21, 1 Thess 3:2), Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25) and Philemon (Philem 1). None of these four are inferior. They were people who went with him to missions and leaders in church. Even lesser-known Epaphroditus was acknowledged by Paul as “my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.” (Phil 2:25).
Conclusion: A good team is a job almost done. We are at our best when we have good or quality people surround us. A team will never fail if members treat each other as family and fellow coworkers. Are you a blessing to others regardless of age, status or race? Can people count on you to do, lead or finish a job? Do people think well of you, talk well about you and put trust in you?
