Instructions in Righteousness: From II Corinthians 8

1-9    Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though HE was rich, yet for your sakes HE became poor, that ye through HIS poverty might be rich.

(Jesus, being with God in heaven, came to earth by the will of God, in the form of a man of flesh and blood, in order to die for the sins of all, by the will of God.  Thus Jesus left great riches to become poor that we, through HIS sacrifice, might be rich.)

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II Corinthians 8:10-15    And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

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16-20   But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.  And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:  Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:


21-24   Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.  Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.  Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf

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All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  II Timothy 3:16

This is a letter from Paul fitting a specific situation yet I have seen verses that you would never think usable today become very important to me in helping me to make serious decisions.

At one point, the following scripture was greatly used by God to encourage me in a work I believe HE wanted me to do. 

I had been shown sins being comitted by some big time ministers.  I tried to get a message to each of them in private concerning these specific sins.  But these big ministers are often very hard to reach.  Even though I was relatively well know at that time, I was unable to reach them.

So I decided to deliver the correction on my radio broadcast, naming the minister by name and citing the problem.  Then the message reached those ministers.

The scripture used to show me to do this public statement was as follows.

Paul said:  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.  II Timothy 4:14-15

By this scripture, I saw Paul cite a wrong-doer in front of all, naming him by name and providing a warning to all.

I don't believe I could have done this work without having this scripture called to my attention to show me what to do and to give me courage to do the work.

So  I believe all scripture is inspired by God and can be used for our benefit in instruction.  So I always read scripture, even when it doesn't seem to pertain to me at that time.

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