The Glory of a Good Reputation Text: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Introduction: The Weight of Money and Glory
We live in an age that is deeply suspicious of authority, and particularly suspicious of any authority that has anything to do with money. And in many cases, this suspicion is well-earned. We have seen a parade of televangelists with bad hair and worse theology fleece the flock in order to fund their garish lifestyles. We have seen ministries crumble under the weight of financial scandal. And so, the world, and many in the church, have concluded that the safest course is to treat all discussions of money in the church as though one were handling a live grenade. The topic is distasteful, it is worldly, it is a necessary evil at best.
But the apostle Paul would have none of this. For Paul, money is not a grubby topic to be gotten over with quickly so that we can get back to the "spiritual" things. No, for Paul, the collection for the saints in Jerusalem was a glorious work, a grace, a ministry, and a proof of love. How a church handles its money is a direct reflection of its spiritual health. It is a theological issue from top to bottom. Generosity is the gospel in miniature. It is the overflow of a heart that has been gripped by the ultimate generosity of God in Christ, who though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor.
In our text today, Paul is not simply arranging the logistics for a financial transfer. He is building a theological cathedral of integrity. He is demonstrating that the gospel creates a people who are not only zealous for good works, but who are zealous for those good works to be seen as good. The integrity of the ministry is paramount. Paul is not just concerned with being above reproach; he is concerned with being seen to be above reproach. He understands that a failure here does not just discredit him, it discredits the gospel and it dishonors the Lord Himself.
So as we look at this passage, we are not looking at some dusty administrative memo. We are looking at the practical outworking of a profound theology. We are seeing how the glory of God is connected to the careful, transparent, and joyful administration of a gift of money. Paul is sending a delegation to Corinth to finalize the collection, and he goes to great lengths to ensure that this entire affair is handled with unimpeachable integrity. In doing so, he teaches us a vital lesson: Christian ministry must be glorious not only in its message, but also in its methods.
The Text
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. 17For he not only accepted our plea, but being himself very earnest, he has gone out to you of his own accord. 18And we have sent along with him the brother whose praise in the things of the gospel is throughout all the churches. 19And not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work that is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, 20taking precaution lest anyone discredits us in our ministering of this generous gift, 21for we respect what is good, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things, but now even more earnest because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 24Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
(2 Corinthians 8:16-24 LSB)
God-Given Earnestness (vv. 16-17)
Paul begins by giving thanks to God for the heart of his emissary, Titus.
"But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our plea, but being himself very earnest, he has gone out to you of his own accord." (2 Corinthians 8:16-17)
Notice where the credit goes. Paul is sending Titus, a man he clearly trusts and esteems, but the first thing he does is thank God for Titus's attitude. The "earnestness" that Titus has for the Corinthians is not a native personality trait. It is not the result of some self-help program. Paul says God "puts" it in his heart. This is a divine impartation. All true and lasting ministry zeal is a gift of God's grace. When you see a man who is diligent, eager, and genuinely concerned for the welfare of God's people, you are seeing the hand of God at work.
This earnestness is the same care that Paul himself has for them. God has replicated the apostle's own pastoral heart in his delegate. This is how true ministry propagates. It is not through slick marketing or institutional programs, but through God raising up men who share the same God-given heart for the flock.
And this divine work produced a remarkable result in Titus. He didn't just accept the assignment out of duty. Paul says he was "very earnest" and went "of his own accord." This is the sweet spot of Christian service. It is where God's sovereignty and man's responsibility meet and kiss. God put the desire in Titus's heart, and Titus acted on that desire with wholehearted enthusiasm. He didn't have to be coaxed or cajoled. The external request from Paul ("our plea") lined up perfectly with the internal work of the Spirit. This is what we should all desire in our service to the church. We should pray that God would put such earnestness in our hearts for the tasks He sets before us that we undertake them not as a grim duty, but as a joyful privilege.
A Team of Integrity (vv. 18-21)
Paul does not send Titus alone. He builds a team around this project, and his reasons for doing so are profoundly important.
"And we have sent along with him the brother whose praise in the things of the gospel is throughout all the churches. And not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work... taking precaution lest anyone discredits us in our ministering of this generous gift, for we respect what is good, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." (2 Corinthians 8:18-21)
Paul sends two other men along with Titus. The first is a man who is famous. He is "the brother whose praise in the things of the gospel is throughout all the churches." We don't know who this was for certain, some have suggested Luke, but his identity is less important than his reputation. He was a man universally respected for his gospel work. Paul is stacking the deck with men of high character.
But there's more. This brother was not Paul's personal appointee. He was "appointed by the churches" to travel with Paul. This is a crucial point. The churches who gave the money also selected a representative to travel with the money. This is accountability in action. Paul is not a lone ranger. He is not some unaccountable CEO of "Paul Ministries, Inc." He is submitting his work to the oversight of the churches. He is inviting scrutiny. He wants the donors to have their own man on the inside, watching the whole process.
Why does he do this? He tells us plainly in verses 20 and 21. He is "taking precaution lest anyone discredits us." He knows that a large sum of money is a temptation, not just to theft, but to slander. The enemies of the gospel are always looking for an angle of attack, and financial impropriety is a classic. Paul is determined to give them no ammunition. He is building a fortress of transparency around this "generous gift."
His reasoning is captured in that magnificent principle in verse 21: "for we respect what is good, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." This is a quotation from Proverbs 3:4. It is not enough for a minister to know in his own heart that he is honest. His honesty must be visible, demonstrable, and plain for all to see. To say, "I know my heart is pure before God, so I don't care what men think" is not spiritual; it is arrogant and foolish. It fails to recognize that our reputation is a stewardship. A good name is essential for the advance of the gospel. Paul is not being a man-pleaser; he is being wise. He is removing any potential stumbling block that might hinder the ministry. This is a principle that every church, every ministry, and every Christian must take to heart. We must be zealous for a public and manifest integrity.
A Band of Brothers (vv. 22-23)
Paul then describes the third member of the team and summarizes the character of the entire delegation.
"And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things, but now even more earnest 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 messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ." (2 Corinthians 8:22-23)
The third man is also unnamed, but he is not unknown. He is a man Paul has "often tested." This brother has a track record. He has been proven diligent and reliable in many different situations. And now, his earnestness is kicked into an even higher gear because of his "great confidence" in the Corinthians. He has heard of their zeal and is eager to see it for himself. Good reports about a church's faithfulness have a wonderful way of encouraging and motivating others.
Then Paul gives a final commendation of the whole team in verse 23. This verse is a crescendo of confidence. Titus is Paul's "partner and fellow worker." They are in this together, laboring side-by-side for the good of the Corinthians. The other two men are "messengers of the churches." The word for messengers is apostoloi, the same word for apostles. Here it is used in a non-technical sense of "sent ones." They are official representatives, commissioned by the churches.
And what is the ultimate description of these men? They are "a glory to Christ." This is a staggering statement. These men, in their character, their earnestness, and their integrity, bring glory to Jesus. Their faithful service is a reflection of the worth and beauty of their Master. This is the highest calling of any Christian. It is not about building our own reputation or our own little kingdom. It is about living in such a way that when people look at us, they see a reflection, however dim, of the glory of Christ. These men were not glorious in themselves; they were walking mirrors, and the light they reflected was the light of the Son of God.
The Public Proof (v. 24)
Finally, Paul brings it all home with a direct charge to the Corinthian church.
"Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you." (2 Corinthians 8:24)
The ball is now in their court. This high-powered delegation, this team of unimpeachable character, is on its way. And their arrival will be a moment of truth. Paul tells the Corinthians to show these men, "openly before the churches," the proof of their love. The "churches" here refers to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, represented by these delegates. This is not to be a private, back-room transaction. It is to be a public demonstration.
What are they to prove? Two things. First, their love. Christian giving is not about paying taxes to God. It is an expression of love for Christ and for His people. Their generous completion of the gift would be tangible evidence of the reality of their faith and love. Second, they were to prove Paul's "reason for boasting" about them. Paul had been bragging about the Corinthians to the Macedonians (2 Cor. 9:2). He had expressed his confidence in their readiness to give. Now was the time for them to make good on Paul's boast. He had put his own reputation on the line, based on his confidence in them. Their follow-through would vindicate his trust and bring glory to God.
Conclusion: Reputation as Ministry
This passage is intensely practical, but its practicality is rooted in the deepest theology. The gospel of grace creates a people who are not only saved from their sins, but who are transformed in their character. And that character matters. Integrity matters. Reputation matters.
Paul's meticulous care in assembling this team teaches us that we cannot separate our doctrine from our dealings, our faith from our finances, or our piety from our paperwork. The world is watching the church, and they are often looking for a reason to dismiss our message. Let us not give them one. Let us, like Paul, take precautions. Let us be scrupulous in our dealings. Let us build a culture of accountability and transparency in our churches and ministries, not out of fear, but out of a zealous desire to protect the glory of Christ.
These men were "a glory to Christ." What a thing to have said about you. It was not because they were slick or polished or charismatic in the modern sense. It was because they were earnest, tested, trustworthy, and accountable. They were men whose lives backed up their message. They were men you could trust with the gospel, and therefore, you could trust them with the offering plate.
May God grant us the grace to be such men and women. May He put in our hearts a divine earnestness for His work. And may we conduct ourselves in all things, great and small, in such a way that we respect what is good, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. For in doing so, we show the world the proof of our love, and we become, in our own small way, a glory to Christ.