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"The same earnest care for you..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:16

THE HEART OF A SHEPHERD

God had done a great work in training and cultivating the heart of Paul. As he grew in faith and in his understanding of ministry, he cultivated the true heart of a shepherd. He possessed a sense of love and concern that all good shepherds should have. He was especially glad to note that Titus, his spiritual son, had the same pastoral heart.

“But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care
for you into the heart of Titus.
For he not only accepted the exhortation,
but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.”
2 Corinthians 8:16-17

1. “But thanks be to God”

a) Paul’s first reference is always with reference to God.

b) He could not but give thanks to God.

c) He was most conscious of God’s work in the human heart.

2. “Who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus”

a) “Who puts”

i) God’s role must be acknowledged.

ii) It must also be appreciated.

iii) It is He who works in our hearts.

b) Titus

i) He was one of his spiritual sons (Titus 1:1).

ii) He worked alongside Paul and his team of fellow-workers.

iii) He was mentioned in the following texts- 2 Corinthians 7:13-14; 8:6, 16-17.

c) “Same earnest care”

i) He showed earnestness.

ii) He displayed zeal.

3. “He not only accepted the exhortation”

a) Paul exhorted him to return to Corinth for ministry (2 Corinthians 8:6).

b) He accepted Paul’s word of exhortation and more.

4. “But being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord”

a) “More diligent”- This word is derived from the word translated “same earnest care”.

b) Titus was praised that he was even more earnest and went most willingly. Paul did not really even need to exhort him to serve at Corinth! Such was the earnest zeal Titus possessed.