“We have been greatly encouraged by this. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. I had told him how proud I was of you—and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true! Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way all of you obeyed him and welcomed him with such fear and deep respect. I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.”
2 Corinthians 7:13-16 NLT
It must have been the case that Titus was a bit apprehensive about going to meet with the Corinthians, because Paul wrote that their welcome for him “set his mind at ease”. I think any of us would have been a bit unsure of the reception we would receive, carrying in our pocket the missive that Paul had penned. To add to his concern was the long journey to reach Corinth from where Paul was at the time. It is thought that Paul wrote his first letter while at Ephesus, meaning a 290-mile sea journey would have been required to reach Corinth. A land journey was possible, although much longer, so it would have taken weeks at the normal walking pace of 15-20 miles per day. But all that time dwelling on the contents of the letter throbbing in his pocket would have weighed on Titus’ mind. I expect Paul was relieved as well, hearing that his letter had been so positively received, having achieved its purpose, which was to bring the Corinthian believers back on the “straight and narrow” path.
It would have been much easier for Paul to have delivered what he had to say in person, because by doing so there would have been a feedback mechanism in place, allowing for the optimisation of the delivery. He began his first letter by addressing the quarrels that had been occurring. “For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters” (1 Corinthians 1:11). It would have been easier for Paul to gather together the quarrelling parties and work with them to resolve their differences. In that process, his love and compassion for them would have won them over and brought about a reconciliation. But just to point out the problem and leave it to them to sort out would not have been very efficient, if it even worked. So Titus’ apprehension was understandable.
What about for us pilgrims? We have, I’m sure, encountered times when a problem or difficulty has to be confronted. It could be a parent to a child, or a manager to an employee. Even, perhaps, between friends. And I’m sure that the build-up to the day the encounter was to take place would have been full of apprehension, even with a sleepless night involved. We would have prayed and asked God to help in the meeting, but there would still have been that unease niggling in our minds. “I wish it were all over” was a thought probably in our minds. To the Galatians, Paul wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (Galatians 6:1). Such advice, valuable as it is, requires a face-to-face encounter to be able to communicate with gentleness and humility.
In today’s internet-enabled world, it is sometimes easy to just fire off an email or message to another person, or make a comment on a social media platform, to avoid personal contact. But in the process, sight is lost of the innuendo and interpretation of the message by the other person. We may write the message from our perspective, but when it’s received by the other person, it means something totally different to them. Such a thought must always have been in Paul’s mind as he wrote his letters. In 3 John 1:13-14, we read, “I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face”. Some things have to be said person to person, and not by “pen and ink”.
The message from our verses in 2 Corinthians today is clear and affects both the giver and the receiver. If we have a message to deliver, particularly if it is of the importance that Paul could see, then we must carefully think through the process to avoid unnecessary or unintended consequences, such as a permanent schism resulting. If we are in receipt of the message, then we must not react in anger, rejecting both the message and the messenger, but must carefully take it away and consider it through prayer, asking for God’s help in discerning what has been said. Some unease on the part of either party is to be expected, but with God’s help, the problem is resolved, and apprehension dissipated.
Dear Father God. Human interaction can be difficult sometimes, but we each pray for ourselves today, praying “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer”. Thank You for Your grace and love. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 