“But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.”
2 Corinthians 8:16-19 NLT
Paul was a man of integrity, regardless of what others said about him. On occasion, he was forced to say something in his defence, as we read in 2 Corinthians 1:17, “You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? The attacks on Paul largely came from opponents in Corinth, Jewish leaders who disagreed with his teachings on the law and about Jesus. But integrity would have been integral to Paul’s character, and he surrounded himself with other men of integrity, such as Titus. Paul wrote with gratitude about Titus, whose heart, we are told, was stirred not by obligation, but by genuine care. Alongside him was another believer, also entrusted with handling the offering being collected for God’s people. This wasn’t just administration; it was a ministry built on integrity, accountability, and shared purpose. It was essential to make the point that in a world where corruption was common, here were men of integrity who could be trusted to take the whole offering to Jerusalem without dipping into it on the way, or even doing a runner somewhere with the whole amount in their pockets. It’s easy to think of integrity as a “practical” issue rather than a spiritual one—but Paul sees no separation. Anything to do with handling money, working with others, and being accountable is not just an organisational concern—they are acts of worship. These men knew that when they served God, how they did it reflected the God they represented.
In a world today, where trust is a fragile characteristic, there are some messages to believers everywhere from our verses today. Take Titus, for example. He wasn’t pressured to go to Corinth. He was eager, we read, and he had the same enthusiasm as Paul did. All believers are in some form of service in their fellowships and churches, and in the church I attend, there are opportunities for service all the time, not just on a Sunday. Do we do these acts of service willingly with integrity and caring? These characteristics are the bedrock of any fellowship and fulfil our Christian obligations to one another. The men travelling with Paul had reputations for doing what was right. Trust is built over time through a consistent character. Today, this means being honest with finances, following through on commitments, and, in all of it, acting with transparency. We must realise that our everyday choices are shaping our witness. As a friend of mine once said, our attitude determines our altitude.
Another message from this passage today involves how we deal with resources, either our own, our church’s, our employer’s, or even our family’s. From our verses today, we read that the brothers’ actions were “a service that glorifies the Lord”. That is the ultimate motivation. Whether we’re serving in church, volunteering in our communities, or working in our jobs, or whatever we are doing, we are representing Jesus, doing all to His glory.
One characteristic that shines in all that Paul said was faithfulness. This, we know, is a fruit of the Spirit, and is something that Jesus encourages in all of us. Solomon wrote about it, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 3:3).
God’s work is not only advanced by great preaching or bold vision, but by ordinary believers who can be trusted with responsibility. Think about faithfulness in the small things, integrity in the unseen moments and willingness to do the everyday tasks. These are the building blocks of a life that honours God.
Dear Heavenly Father. We understand the importance of personal integrity, because it honours You. Let us never forget that. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 