Knowing The Word in 2 Corinthians 8:16-17, Commendation of Titus

16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.

Is Paul being shrewd by staying away and letting his surrogates sort things out with his problematic friends in Corinth? Paul exhibits something that any mentor and overseer needs, and that is trust. Not only does he trust that God is working in Titus, but that Titus is truly working for God. One of the most destabilizing forces in Christian relationships is lack of trust. It communicates to those working under a leader a lack of confidence. Instead, Paul is an encourager of Titus. He is also shrewd to let Titus step into and lead in a difficult situation for Paul where his actual presence might worsen the situation.

Empower me

to be a bold participant,

rather than a timid saint in waiting,

in the difficult ordinariness of now;

to exercise the authority of honesty,

rather than to defer to power,

or deceive to get it;

to influence someone for justice,

rather than impress anyone for gain;

and, by grace, to find treasures

of joy, of friendship, of peace

hidden in the fields of the daily

you give me to plough.

Ted Loder