Spending it All

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

SPENDING IT ALL

2 Cor 12:14-18

14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

NIV

Here again, we have some personal notes from Paul specifically to the Corinth church. How do we bring this into our lives? The scripture is clear that all of it is profitable for us, either to teach, correct, rebuke, or train us in righteousness, so then there is something here for us. Of course, we have this phrase that has been used out of context within our culture all too often. This is the part where children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. Our culture has beaten that to death as it relates to parents saving up all their possessions, which include their wealth so to leave it for their children as an inheritance. We are not saying that is a bad thing, and surely many good people, even good Christians may well feel this is the right thing to do. But in the context, Paul is saying that he is willing to spend it all, even to the point of spending himself for the sake of his spiritual children. The context has nothing to do with parents leaving an inheritance or expecting their children to support them in their old age. This has everything to do with spending ourselves for the sake of our spiritual children, who could be either those we have personally brought to Christ or in the broader sense, those who the Lord has given us to encourage and assist in their walk with the Lord, building them up until we all reach the unity in the faith. This is about not exploiting our fellow believers, as Paul says those “Super-apostles” were doing. We see that today with those high profile, silver-tongued purveyors of deception for their own personal edification and abundant lifestyle, rather than spending it all for their spiritual children. They take both advantage and the support of their followers, children, instead of spending themselves. This is our task; this is our calling to spend ourselves. Give all we are to the cause of teaching, through either writing or preaching the truth so to build up the church of Jesus Christ. Sure, we must work and do all those things life demands of us. Yes, we must spend time doing life outside of the community of faith, in some sense. But the point here is that we should not hold back from spending ourselves, giving that gift God has graciously bestowed upon us for the advancement of His kingdom, and so the growth of His church. Yes, the Spirit does all that, and Jesus said that He would build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. However, God works through His people, the Spirit manifests His gifts in people, and it is through us, Jesus is building His church and we are His stronghold against the gates of hell. Through the Spirit, we spend ourselves for His church. 

Having Orders

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

HAVING ORDERS

2 Cor 12:11-13

11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. 12 The things that mark an apostle — signs, wonders and miracles — were done among you with great perseverance. 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

NIV

Is Paul saying that he should have been a burden to the Corinthian church? Is he saying that because they did not support him during his stay with them that it made them inferior to the churches that did support Paul? He is asking them to forgive him for not taking any support from them, that it should have been their pleasure and his duty to allow them to give to his support? It's a Christian pleasure to give to the support of those who guide us in the faith. However, there is another truth that Paul is bringing out here regarding the difference between an apostle and those false apostles that were, in fact, taking money from as many churches as they could, while they spread their brand of discord against the gospel that Paul preached. Here is what marks a true apostle, sign, wonders and miracles. Those three sound all the same so we must check with the Greek to see if there is any difference. The word translated as sign is to indicate, to signify, which would mean that if someone is shown by God to be the one, he sent, it will be indicated, made clear. The Greek word translated as wonders, carries the meaning of potent, or power to perform miracles, while the word used as miracles is better translated as mighty deeds, or great strength, ability, power. What this might say is it may be that only those first apostles were the only apostles, and they are no more. Of course, we can say that many of those who are in ministry, such as pastors, evangelist, missionaries, and the like, if they have been called by God, then they have in that sense been sent, and should have that sign, or it is evident they are sent by Him. It might be possible to try to fake that, which seems to appear some are attempting to do. However, God will reveal the truth about each one he has sent. As far as being potent, or having power to perform miracles, we cannot be certain. However, again that may simply be a matter of faith. Maybe those who are sent by God should have faith or exercise their faith more so as to be performing some type of miracle, or maybe miracles are over, and it is all just the ordinary hum-drum business of preaching. This would also apply to having great strength, ability, and power. Maybe all of us have just accepted that God does not send anyone like he did with the first apostles. Maybe we have all accepted the normal human limitations in our ministry. Maybe we have entered ministry more as a profession, then a call from God, for if He has called us, would he not also empower us with the signs and wonders? Maybe he has and we just are not willing to accept them, and use them, for the word apostle simply means a delegate, messenger sent forth with orders. So, the question remains, have we been sent with orders, or are we just sending ourselves. Do we have orders? 

Grace is Enough

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

GRACE IS ENOUGH

2 Cor 12:7-10

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

NIV

Let us be clear about one thing. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to determine what Paul meant regarding this thorn in his flesh. With all the commentaries that are available and the hoard of scholars, not one has anything to base their opinion on, and in fact, they have such a wide variety of opinions it only proves everything already said about this matter is conjecture. We do not know what this thorn was. We do know that Paul was beaten, flogged more than once, stoned, exposed to death more than once, been in danger more times than can be counted, and yet he continued to preach the good news. Some of the guesses as to this thorn vary from an actual physical deformity or infirmity to the external opposition of the messenger of Satan, who is thought to be this great false teacher, who followed after Paul trying to destroy all his work. Whatever this thorn was is not the important issue here. What truth we can glean is how Paul pleaded with God three times. We do not know if those three times were close all at the same time, or over the course of days, weeks, or months that he prayed and pleaded for God to take it away. From the context of this conversation with God and God’s answer, we do believe Paul’s thorn was of a physical nature, some weakness, ill health, considering all the physical abuse he has gone through over his years of ministry. How could it not take a toll on his body? Yet that did not keep him from moving forward, keep on keeping on. Still, he pleaded with God to heal him, to take away this thorn, which the Greek word means wooden stake, a pointed piece of wood. It is difficult to think of that as a physiological thorn, but more of something physical. Nevertheless, the Lord made it clear that His grace was all that Paul needed, for, in Paul’s weakness, the power of the Lord is made perfect. Two truths come out of that for us. First, if we had perfect abilities, superior knowledge, highly tuned oratory skills, of what glory does the power of the Lord receive? If we are strong then how does God get the glory? No, it is when we have no training, no skills of our own, no formal learned knowledge, or perfect looking, then the influence of God upon our hearts shows his power, his glory through us. This was His answer to Paul. No, stay weak looking, for my divine influence upon your heart is enough and through your weakness, people will see my glory and power. Everything is about the glory of God. What good is being the prefect looking specimen of humankind, with all the formal training possible, if we are the ones people look to and give praise for? What good are we if we do not live in such a manner that brings praise and glory to God? It does not matter how good we look, or how healthy we are, for when we are weak, when we are simply human, with all its limitations, but we submit to the influence of God, then He gets all the glory and honor that He and He alone deserves. God is the one who makes us strong, who gets us through it all. His grace is enough. 

Whether a Vision or Not

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

WHETHER A VISION OR NOT

2 Cor 12:1-6

12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know — God knows. 3 And I know that this man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

NIV

There is and has been discussion and debate as to what Paul means here when He said that he knew a man who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Some say Paul was speaking of himself in the third person, others say no one can know for certain and it is unwise to conjecture. The most agreed time of Paul writing this letter is 56AD, so then, counting backward fourteen years we would need to know where Paul was in 42AD. This certainly was not the time of his conversion when he had that vision of Jesus. Where he was exactly at the time that he refers to is not known and any guess would be once again conjecture. What we do know is that something extraordinary happened to Paul sometime after his conversion and while he was on one of his missionary journeys. It is interesting that what he saw, he is not permitted to tell. Would that interfere with a person’s ability to believe without seeing? Still, God has performed so many miraculous things in the presence of His people, how could anyone not believe and still the Israelites struggled with being obedient and believing. We have experienced miracles from the hand of God and for that reason, we have absolutely no doubt in our mind whatsoever that God is who he says he is. We have heard the voice of God, whether in our ear, or in our heart, we cannot say, for that would be boasting, but nevertheless, we have heard God on three occasions. It would be wonderful to be caught up to the third heaven and shown what is inexpressible, but that is not our lot in life, at least up to now. We are not saying it would be impossible that God would give us that kind of vision, for nothing is impossible with God. We are only saying we have not had that kind of vision yet. However, that does not, and will not, stop us from our firm belief in God Almighty, the giver of life. We can also boast in our weakness, for we are also sure that in this current form we live in, we are weak, we are susceptible to sin. We also will endure the aches and pains this body will give us, unless, of course, God in his infinite mercy keeps those aches and pains from us. But that is the course of this life, and we should not allow even those things that age brings upon this body to influence our hope, our belief, our faith. That is in the end all we can boast is about Jesus and how he has and is doing and will bring completion the work in us. In the meantime, we will continue to run the race, press toward the mark, whether we have a vision or not. 

Pressure of Concern

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

PRESSURE OF CONCERN

2 Cor 11:21-29

What anyone else dares to boast about — I am speaking as a fool — I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.   25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

NIV

  

When we read this how can we ever imagine having any hard times at all, especially because of our sharing the gospel with someone? Have we ever encountered or experienced a fraction of what Paul has in our efforts to tell someone about Jesus? We live in such comfort, almost in the lap of luxury compared to how Paul lived. Of course, we may not be as driven as he was to share the gospel no matter the cost. Oh, sure we could justify our lackluster efforts by thinking Paul was called by God to do what he did, called to share the gospel, and we are not. Sure, we know we are supposed to witness to people, but not like Paul did. After all, we live in a far more civilized society. People would not flog us or expose us to death. We certainly would not have to worry about being lashed thirty-nine times or beaten with rods. Nor would we have to be concerned about being stoned, or for that matter shipwrecked. It would also be true that we should not have to have any concerns about being in danger from rivers, bandits, or other Americans. It is true some Christians in other parts of the world might be in danger from Muslims, but not us, at least for now. We need not worry about being in danger in the city or the country or on the sea or even from those false teachers on television. It is unlikely we have ever gone hungry or been thirsty because we have gone without food in order to share the Gospel. It is also unlikely we have ever been cold and gone naked because of our desire to share Christ. No, we do in comparison live completely in the lap of luxury. Sure, we might fear losing our job if we spend too much time talking about Jesus. People might think we are a little over the top if we are always talking about Jesus. People might think we are arrogant if we know too much of the word of God and talk about it instead of the weather, or sports, or some other mundane topic, like other people, which is gossip and sin. Some people might think we are foolish for having the faith we do. But we should get real here, and see how easy we have it, and that should spur us on to do more. Even if we have some backlash from our sharing the gospel, then praise God. Maybe we should be more like Paul. In at least one sense we are. We feel weak, and we have that inward desire toward sin, although Paul calls it an inward burn. Still, we think that maybe we should be more like Paul in those other areas and be willing to give up some comfort for the sake of the Gospel and feel that pressure of concern for the church.

 

Discerning

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

DISCERNING

2 Cor 11:16-21

16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

NIV

What do we do with this? It almost sounds like Paul is being a bit sarcastic and this is supposed to be the inspired word of God. How do we deal with it? How do we find how this might apply to us, or be instructive, corrective, or inspiring us in our walk? There had to be men traveling about that Paul accuses of enslaving, exploiting, or taking advantage of the church at Corinth and that they were so easily enticed by them. Once again we could take our cue from them and see those silver-tongued purveyors of lies that have infiltrated the community of faith today as the same types that infected the Corinthian church. Paul calls those types of men fools because they boast about themselves. Those false preachers were in fact slapping the Corinthians in the face. That is how much of an insult to the truth than were. This must be the same today and yet there are many who look to those high-profile smooth-talking boasters with awe, fooling them, buying all their garbage, making them wealthy and powerful and continually being in awe of them. We have to know they are here among us and watch out that they do not take advantage of not just us, but to help our fellow believers from being deceived by them. Sure, they sound good, but that is because they have learned how to sound good so as to draw people to themselves for their own personal gain. If their motives were purely righteous then they would not live in such abundance, but take all that wealth and use it righteously, instead of on their own abundance lifestyle. We have to see them for who they are, boasters, braggers, and fools. At the same time, we have to make sure we are not like that in any way. We cannot boast about anything for we have nothing to boast about. We are lacking in all the skills and talents of those false teachers. We have so little knowledge, yet we know that God, who started a good work in us is faithful and He will bring His work in us to completion. Still, we have to be wise against the schemes of the devil and that is still a work of God as that Spirit manifests His gift of discernment in us. Thus, we can discern the difference between what is truth and what is not, and we can discern the truth about those who would enslave and exploit the church. With the working of the Spirit within, we can know the truth. 

Who Do We Think We Are

 DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE

2 Cor 11:7-15

7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

NIV

It sure seems as those these false apostles were taking up large offerings for themselves wherever they went. It is not that Paul did not receive support, but he made it clear that he did not expect the Corinthian church to pay him for his services. There were others, who wanted to support his needs and like anyone who works fulltime spreading the gospel, does need to be looked after for the needs of life. Of course, today we some denominations actually hire their pastors, giving them a salary and some even are given expense accounts, with housing included. Other denominations work differently as the pastors are paid by the denomination itself and assign the pastors to their place of service. But the results are all the same, each receives support for their service to the kingdom of God, as it should be. Paul is just saying that he did not want this particular church to pay him while he was there. Again, this speaks to those silver-tongued preachers of today that fleece their followers to live abundantly. Paul did not live abundantly, for his calling was from God. Paul says these false preachers are masquerading, just as Satan does. The point is that it is important to be real, rather than building those facades to look better than we are. Who really knows another person’s, inner man? We know that God looks at the heart of man, rather than his outside, but most of us only see the outside of each other. How can we tell the genuine person? We suppose to a certain extent, we must accept who someone is by their actions, rather than our ability to see into their heart. We can gain some insight into a person through their personality, but that can even be suspect to be a façade. Of course, we cannot go around being judge and jury for every person we come in contact with, that would be both exhausting and sinful. What we can control, and judge is ourselves. We can make sure that we live as real as we can, honest with others as well as with ourselves, not thinking more highly of ourselves than we should, as well as thinking sobering about who we are, taking a close look at who we are, and how we think, for our behavior is a result of our thinking, as the word says that as a man thinks, so is he. So then the question is, who do we think we are.