Speaking Before God

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

SPEAKING BEFORE GOD 

2 Cor 2:14-17

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

NIV

We are not done with these words. Although we dis deal with the idea of God leading us in a triumphal procession in Christ and being a fragrance of Christ everywhere. We left out the idea of peddling the word of God for profit versus speaking before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. There must have been men in those days, just as there are in our days, who peddle the word of God for profit. It never ceases to amaze us there are people, believers who are willing to follow such charlatans, who do nothing more than fleece the flock, so to speak, so they can live an extraordinarily abundant life. How can these men speak with sincerity, or for that matter, speak before God? Whenever the Word of God is spoken before men, we need to remember foremost, that we are speaking before God. We also need to remember that being in Christ, and when we speak that we do so with all sincerity, or with purity, as the Greek word means. How can we speak any corrupt words to retail the word of God, especially before Him? It is interesting the Greek word translated as peddle does carry the meaning of retailing as a huckster would. “Hurry, hurry, come and hear words that tickle your fancy” “Step right up ladies and Gentlemen, buy your tickets now, and hear words that can make you rich” the hucksters are a bit more subtle, nevertheless, they are selling God’s word for profit. No, we have to speak with all purity of intent, because we are held to a higher standard. Whenever we speak the Word of God, we speak as being sent from God. If then, we are sent from God to speak before men, we better make sure that which we speak is truth, and that we speak in humility, knowing that God has given us the words to speak. Yes, it is right to honor those called to pastor the flock and particularly those called to full-time ministry and their labor deserves a wage. But that is far different than peddling the word for profit. Perhaps anyone who speaks before God and men with sincerity should not be muzzled but compensated for their labor. Yet even Paul did not ask for a payment, but rather labored with friends to make an income from selling tents they made, so he would not be a burden on the local churches. However, the point is still the same, speaking the word of God has to be with sincerity because we speak it before God, and people like men being sent from God.