“avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).
It seems that Paul the Apostle recognized the need to act with discretion in administrating this financial offering for the churches of Judea. His response should direct our attention to one of the most important requests we can make of God: the ability to exercise discernment. This valuable gift provides us with the capacity to see things as God sees them and not necessarily the way they appear.
You see, discernment enables us to exercise perception, understanding, and good judgment in various situations. However, this is more than just a helpful characteristic; it is something that is essential in many respects. For instance, one of the most important elements of good character involves the ability to perceive the potential consequences of our actions- and the unfortunate truth is that untold numbers of people have been deeply hurt by those who failed to discern the potential effects of their decisions.
In this instance, Paul realized that others might question the appropriateness of a large financial offering in the hands of one of his close friends. Therefore, he took steps to eliminate any potential avenues of criticism. While Paul certainly recognized the need to act with integrity before God (or “in the sight of the Lord” as he said in the passage quoted above), he also worked to ensure that others could see that as well (“but also in the sight of men”).
So this capacity for discernment enabled Paul to see how others might perceive him and helped ensure that he acted as a good representative of Christ. In a similar manner, discernment can also help us determine if we are acting faithfully in many small (and seemingly inconsequential) areas of life. As Jesus reminded us…
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?” (Luke 16: 10-12 NLT).
In the words of one commentator, “It is the business of the Christian community to do its business in such a way that men of the world will have no cause to suspect anything contrary to righteousness in its affairs.” (1)
(1) G. Campbell Morgan, Searchlights from the Word (p. 385). Quoted in William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary (2 Corinthians 8:21).