Financial Accountability – 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

A Ponzi scheme is an investment scheme that lures investors by paying high returns to initial investors from the contributions of later investors rather than from genuine earnings on investments, allowing the person behind the scheme to accumulate huge sums of money for him or herself. The scheme gets its name from Charles Ponzi, who notoriously used the scheme in the 1920’s. But it was actually used first by two women, Adele Spitzeder in Germany and Sarah Howe in the United States in the 1880s, who through the “Ladies’ Deposit” offered a solely female clientele an eight-percent monthly interest rate, and then stole the money that the women had invested.   It succeeds at first because no one is providing accountability for use of the funds.

Paul wanted to avoid any possible fraud when it came to the gift he was asking the churches to send to Jerusalem to aid the impoverished saints there.

But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. (2 Corinthians 8:16-24 ESV)

Paul is grateful that God has put in the heart of Titus the same “earnest care” he has for the Corinthians, and he is excited that Titus is going to visit the Corinthians, along with “the brother” whom Paul does not name but whom he says is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. Who could it be? Is it Apollos, who was so beloved by the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4)? Timothy? We just don’t know.

But in addition to this, this unknown to us but famous among the churches individual, has been appointed by all the churches Paul founded to bring the offering to Jerusalem. And Titus will be also be going. Titus, who has ministered beside Paul for years and whom the Corinthians know intimately, will be a part of the team who escorts this offering, accompanying the gift along with another brother whom the Corinthians know.  Paul has been boasting to these men and others about the Corinthians and hopes the Corinthians will live up to it.

You can’t be too careful when it comes to dealing with money because of the great temptation it affords to sin.  Multiple levels of accountability are always helpful and will assure, as much as possible, that the money is being cared for properly. Paul is modeling for us that we should never let money be handled by just one person, but by a team for the sake of accountability.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups?

1. What is your best and your worst experience of this week?
2. How would you project what might have happened if the money Paul was collecting for the Jerusalem believers was mishandled or stolen?
3. What accountability system does your church use to make sure that the money you contribute is used for ministry?
4. Why do you think it is such a temptation to steal unaccountable money?
5. Are you in a situation that gives you access to money that isn’t accounted for?
6. What responsibility will you take to make sure that the money you are responsible for is not subject to misuse?