To Whom Should You Give

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

I find fund-raising challenging. I’m not good at it, but it is a necessity for doing ministry. That’s always been true. Paul was getting a collection together for the Christians in Jerusalem. They were in desperate need and some, like the churches of Macedonia, had already given generously. Now, Paul wanted the Christians in Corinth to participate and help this cause. So, Paul is sending emissaries to Corinth to receive this offering.

In this text Paul is essentially putting to rest any doubts the Corinthians may have had about the trustworthiness of these men who would be handling the money they were given. Critical to any charitable organization or fund-raising effort is trust. Trust is built over time through a history of consistent integrity. Conversely, trust can be destroyed in an instant by an act of dishonesty.

Having worked with various overseas ministry partners over many years, I can testify that there are some men who I trust and some I don’t. The men I trust, I trust because they have proven themselves to be trustworthy. They are accountable and honest. I can rely on them to do what they promised, and if they can’t fulfill their promises, they are upfront and explain why, and work with me on seeking a resolution.

There are other men I have helped who have greatly disappointed me. They were dishonest. They promised one thing and did another and tried to hide what they had done. They usually tell me what they think I want to hear, rather than what the truth is. I refuse to help them or partner with them again, even though they persistently as me to anyway.

Integrity matters. Give to men and ministries that are trustworthy and accountable. Don’t be ashamed to say no to those who aren’t. Paul sets an example for us here. One of the ways you evaluate a ministry is by how transparent they are. Paul was clear about who was doing this, why they could be trusted, and what the plan was for the money that was raised. He wasn’t afraid or ashamed to ask, and he also didn’t resent being held accountable. He strived for integrity in this matter and surrounded himself and used men of integrity for the work.

Photo by lucas Favre on Unsplash