The eager beavers
How we thank God for making Titus as eager as we are to help you! Not only did he welcome our request; he was so eager to help that of his own free will he decided to go to you. With him we are sending the brother who is highly respected in all the churches for his work in preaching the gospel. And besides that, he has been chosen and appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this service of love for the sake of the Lord’s glory and in order to show that we want to help. (verses 16-19)
One feature of the church of the first century that stands out in this section of Second Corinthians is the eagerness and enthusiasm that abounds.
Titus is eager to see the church in Corinth grow, so much so that he decides to go there himself. They are sending an equally enthusiastic and competent co-worker to help Titus. Paul is enthusiastic about the reputation the Corinthian church has built up; he is keen to see them live up to it. It was a time when the church seemed to have abundant energy and an air of urgency.
Would Paul be as enthusiastic about us? Would there be people who have heard so much about us that they are bursting to come and work with us? We would like to think so; and I believe there are many churches whose enthusiasm and excitement for the gospel is clearly seen. Not because Paul or any other pastor made them so. They are like they are because the gospel has had a huge impact on them, and they want to see it spread. And they want to be part of the spreading of the gospel.
A pretty good recipe for vitality.
Lord fill us with a love and enthusiasm for the gospel, and also for the people who need to hear it. Amen.
by Robert Turnbull, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)
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