2 Corinthians 8:1-16 ~ thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.

2 Corinthians 8:1-16

We want you to know, brothers,^{[ brothers and sisters]} about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor ^{[ charis is grace,  favor or thanks]} of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you,^{[ in your love for us]} —see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.


Paul was a man who had plans. Famous plans. Saul sat at the feet of Gamaliel -

Acts 22:3
Then Paul said, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today."

One day, on the road to killing people for God's honor, He met the Light of the World. The Son of God. Chalice of Him, bringing us the Words of Life.

Jesus dealt with the people of Israel, teaching, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:8
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Gamaliel taught Paul something, Words carried for millenniums.

Acts 5:34
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

And in the spirit of round-about, getting to the point - theology-
Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea in 314 A.D. is regarded as an extremely well learned Christian of his time. Eusebius was a Roman historian, well known Christian polemicist, declaring Josephus to be the one saying Jesus' followers did not scatter.

Book 18, Chapter 3, 3 of the Antiquities - Josephus describes the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus. The Testimonium is likely the most discussed passage in Josephus and perhaps in all ancient literature.

Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.

Eusebius, Saul and those who met Jesus, said 'with their lives', what the centurion said of Jesus:

Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

I'm not Jesus. I'm not going to be the Savior of the world. I do not possess His Wisdom and the vastness of His Love. The world has shown me two things about mankind.

John 2:25
He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in man.

Jesus came to us knowing about us. And He is the Hero. God's Son. Created by Words of GOD.  God looked at mankind and He saw good.

Most of us have plans for our lives. And mostly those plans are different than Paul - who was going to devote his life to the Temple, under Herod's authority. (Paul considered the Temple to be the home of God, not reasoning out the Temple catered to the authorities, who were not following Him). Before meeting Jesus, he was very much an unmovable man. We want to marry, have children, have a life. YET we are like Paul, like the disciples, I want to be on His Road. Considering this life - the journey to get Home to HIM. The word road is used 41 times ( in the 80 Books, chosen by the people willing to risk their lives for God's Son in the first Ecumenical conference in 325 A.D.); Half of the times 'road' is used, are the Gospels of His disciples proclaiming His Word and the Book of Acts.  

Let these BE the words, work and desire of my life, Father God:

Mark 10:32
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed

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