Supracultural Principle 50 - Personal Accountability

BIBLICAL BASIS

We urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. - 2 Corinthians 8:6

This special project had been in progress for some time, having been initiated by Paul even before he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians. On Titus's first return visit, he helped the Corinthians get started. On his second visit, he was following Paul's instructions to bring the project to completion. This is probably what brought some negative response.

Supracultural Principle 50

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY

All Christians need accountability when making financial commitments to God's work.

When it comes to giving, many Christians have good intentions. Like the Corinthians, we may respond enthusiastically when we hear about special needs. However, also like the Corinthians, it's easy to forget our commitments. Notice how many steps Paul took to make sure the Corinthians followed through:

· He sent Titus to help them complete the project (2 Corinthians 8:6).

· He wrote a personal letter encouraging them to "finish the work" (2 Corinthians 8:10-11).

· He sent a group of brothers ahead of time to make sure they had collected the money before he arrived (2 Corinthians 9:3).

· He alerted them to his personal plans to arrive with some Macedonian Christians so that they would be prepared and not be embarrassed (2 Corinthians 9:4).

Paul's plan illustrates a system of accountability. The situation in Corinth demonstrates how easy it is for all of us to conveniently forget what we've set out to do, especially when our own desires overshadow the needs of others. Consequently, we, too, need con­stant reminders.

Extracted from Dr Gene Getz’s Rich in Every Way