2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Paul is sending Titus to them. Along with Titus are also two others.

I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.

(v16, NIV)

As much as Paul has encouraged them and talked about desires and concerns, it is God who ignites in us those concerns. God put those concerns into Titus' heart. It may be easy to take credit for that and take pride in it. We fool ourselves all the time with belief in our own efforts. Don't kid yourself; attribute to God what is God's.

Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

(1 Corinthians 1:31, NIV)

For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.

(v2, NIV)

Those at the Corinthian church may not be so happy to have someone coming to them against their own will. However, in the same way that those at the Macedonian church joyfully gave, Titus is acting on his own initiative instead of obligation. He wants to go to Corinth and isn't just doing it because Paul is sending him.

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

(v20-21, NIV)

Now Paul is anticipating some criticism for his actions. He is trying to avoid this criticism. He isn't trying to hide from anybody and he isn't ashamed of what he's doing. He's telling them clearly of his actions and intentions. He is avoiding criticism because it is in line with what he thinks is the right thing to do. There are many times where it's not obvious what the right thing to do is. I hope that you all agree that the right thing always agrees with what is right in the eyes of the Lord. However, it seems somewhat odd that the right thing also has to do with the eyes of men. The way Paul says it, it seems to first imply that what is right in the eyes of the Lord is his first and foremost reasoning for what he defines as "honourable". In ESV the word is "honourable". It's assumed that the right thing is the thing that is honourable in the eyes of the Lord. However, Paul is going beyond to not only do what is right in God's eyes, but also what is right in the eyes of men. That's not wrong as long as you're within the bounds of what is right in God's eyes.