Thanks be to God for Earnest Care 2 Corinthians 8:16

When it came to giving to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack”, and in chapter eight and verse sixteen of Second Corinthians, Paul shares with the Corinthian church members how he found, “the same earnest care into the heart of Titus” where we read:

But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

The verse begins, “But thanks be to God, ...” Paul began with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “thanks” which means “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, lovingkindness and unmerited favor” “be to God” which refers to “to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul gave God “thanks” for that which he is about to proclaim.

The verse goes on to say, “...which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.” Paul added the words, “which put” which means “that gave, granted, supplied, furnished and bestowed” “the same” which means “the like and selfsame” “earnest care” or “promoting, striving for, diligence to and interest” “into the heart” which refers to “the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors” “of Titus” whose name means “nurse” and was “a Gentile Christian and Paul's companion in some of his journeys” “for you” or “for the church members”. Paul recognized the “diligence and interest” in “Titus' soul” for the church members in Corinth.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see his recognition of Titus' “diligence and interest” in the church members. He was passionate for them, and Paul thanked God for it. Jesus Christ desires for the leaders within His church to be passionately concerned and interested in those whom they oversee, and if every leader demonstrated the “earnest care” of Titus, the church would be filled with people who know they are loved.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “indeed he accepted the exhortation”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.