Honest Things 2 Corinthians 8:21

Paul the apostle continued to share about the person who was chosen to travel with he and his companions, and he told how they were, “Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-one of Second Corinthians, Paul shared with the Corinthian church members how he and his companions were “providing for honest things” where we read:

Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

The verse begins, “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, ...” Paul began with the word, “providing” which means “perceiving before and foreseeing” “for honest things” or “for things that are beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable and admirable”, “not only” which means “not alone or merely” “in the sight” or “in the presence of and before” “of the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. Paul and his companions were continually “foreseeing beautiful things” as done before the “eyes” of God.

The verse goes on to say, “... but also in the sight of men.” Paul continued with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “also” or “even and indeed” “in the sight of” or “in the presence of and before” “men” which refers to “human beings whether male or female”. Paul not only wanted to “provide for honest things” before God, but also before “people” as well.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how important it was that he and his companions “aim for what is honorable” before God and men. Jesus desires for believers in Him to remember before whom they do their good deeds, and that people are watching what we do. Paul knew the importance of being conscious of both God and men, and when opportunity arose to provide for “honest things”, he kept each of them in mind.

Next time Paul tells the church members how, “we have sent with them our brother”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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