Financially support servants of Jesus
Titus 3:12-15
12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
This passage is perhaps a little perplexing – what does eagerly help mean and learn to engage in good works given this context in Titus. Here are saints serving Jesus about to go on a trip, one presumes a ministry trip. Paul writes to Titus to ensure they are helped, supported. In the context I think the most likely manner to understand this passage is that the help/support is some financial means to assist their travel.
Over the years Sue and I have tried to fulfill vs. 13 and make “every effort” when we have become aware of a need. I love how Paul then links this kind of generosity to fruitfulness in vs. 14. If we are sincere in our faith, then faith will hit our finances – not simply in giving the first 10% of our gross income to the church as a ‘tithe’ but also in giving where we see need and have means to assist – fruitfulness results!
Father, help me to make every effort to financially support those I see ministering the Gospel.
Written by Ps. Richard Botta