2nd Corinthians 7:1-16 SINCERITY OF THE SERVANT The rewards of faithfulness in the ministry of reconciliation are great and are there for us to claim. True separation to God and warm dedication to His work first of all brings us closer to God Himself. He promises to receive us and be a Father to us - the Lord Almighty! It also brings the saints of God closer to each other as sons and daughters in His family. We are not isolated free-lancers doing our own thing in the work of the Lord. There is unity of people and purpose when we understand who we are and why we are here. Even more, another result of separation to God and from those who are in the world-system is that it brings God closer to us, He promised to "dwell in them, and walk in them." There is no closer fellowship with God than that!! What wonderful promises we have! What a great motivating incentive to cleanse ourselves from everything that would defile the flesh and spirit. That is the negative side of being aware of the promises of God. On the positive side, we are to "perfect holiness" in every aspect of life. This would mean that in the five areas of scriptural separation, in the "fear of God" we do not allow practices that defile the body (flesh), nor do we allow anything to contaminate the soul.
Holiness in the context is a reference to being without sin. God's people are known as "holy brethren" who shun bitterness and jealousy, and rather cultivate forgiveness. As a "holy priesthood" we should be those who conduct ourselves with godly reverence and devotion. We do not put holiness on as a piece of clothing and then put it off at our convenience. The people of God are a "holy temple" who can bring joy or grief depending on their behavior, and as a "holy nation" our lives before the world identifies us as to whether we are living in the fear of God or not. We can perfect holiness by separating from sin. We can avoid sinning by feeding on the Word of God, memorizing it, praying earnestly ourselves, and asking for the prayers and help of other people. " Perfecting holiness" means we are to have nothing to do with those things that are of the past life by making a clean break from them all. Maturing in faith promotes and produces a Christ-likeness that is essential in the ministry of reconciliation.
There was a deep sincerity in the heart of the apostle Paul as he made this appeal for their love and affection. They had a significant place in his heart and he was totally committed to live or die with them. He found joy in them even though they were ignoring him because he knew where they came from and what they had been. He had carefully explained the ministry of the Gospel during the four previous chapters and now picks up his own testimony as a sincere minister of the Gospel he preached. There is a glad reunion with Titus, his co-worker who was also a great comforter to him when he brought his report of the response of the Corinthian believers to Paul's corrective letter. Joy is not limited to those things that makes us comfortable. Sometimes the joy we have in trials and pressures is deeper and more significant to us because of the situation in which we are found. In hardships we can be comforted and find joy when we know the ministry to which we have been called is progressing. Correction as well as promotion is part of the work of the Lord. A caring man like Titus who had been proven by his faithful conduct, is one who can be trusted to give an accurate assessment of a work that has been done.
There are some principles of confrontation that it is well to follow in the interests of affirming one's ministry. Paul did this and the results were what he had hoped to accomplish. Do not be abrasive and arrogant, but be firm and bold in addressing the problem. Wrong has to be repented of and godly sorrow brings repentance that corrects the matters that are wrong. Affirm all you can that is good. Encourage what you can honestly see is positive. Perhaps this is a major point to be made because the affirmation principle sees correction as a result of godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow brings embarrassment and bitterness as it looks for someone else to blame for their wrong actions. Be accurate and honest when bringing correction. Do not give half-truths nor quote hearsay as evidence. Know the facts and do not exaggerate. In a corrective ministry, one needs to carefully prepare and not "wing it." Do not neglect to follow up after a confrontation. There is great value in the first contacts after the matter has been dealt with. A clear understanding of why the confrontation had to take place and a careful clearing of the charge is strengthened in this way. Be gentle after being firm - firm regarding truth, gentle regarding people. Use speech that reflects Christ's words, His message, His approach to confrontation. His words were always spiritual with the objective of ministering to the whole person. Punishment is a form of discipline that is used after all else has failed to change a person's behavior.
The Corinthians responded appropriately to Paul's correction. It is difficult to accept correction or rebuke with grace and tact. Those saints accepted the responsibility to clear themselves of evil and to make the wrong right. They wanted the will of God and acted on the matter in the way they were instructed by Paul. The report Paul received from Titus assured him that his boasting of their basic soundness of heart and desire for God's will was vindicated. Ministry and the ministers of God's truth is a basic theme in this epistle, but there is also another beautiful theme - "rejoicing."
There was rejoicing in the heart of the apostle Paul over the manner of life and value of it in Christian testimony. Behavior of the messengers greatly affects the way the Gospel message is received. Believers also find cause for rejoicing in each other as we are exhorted by one another to be faithful in view of the coming of the Lord. In the circumstances of life, we can find cause for rejoicing in spite of the pressures that may come against us. Our attitude toward God allows us to see beyond the immediate things that could discourage us, to the One who controls all circumstances in life that we may be called upon to face. When there is godly sorrow for sin and genuine repentance that completely clears a whole matter up, that is a cause for rejoicing. A wrong has been corrected and the faith of those involved is affirmed. Confidence restored in a person, or in this case, an assembly of God's people, is certainly a great reason to rejoice.
So even in the middle of difficulties in the ministry of reconciliation, there are many reasons for us to be encouraged and rejoice in the work of God being fruitful in the lives of His people.
What would I do when ignored and criticized for no righteous reason at all? Would I retaliate with sarcasm and anger, or quietly wait for God in grace to call? I hope there is enough spirituality in me that in God I would put my trust. And gracefully turn in silence and walk away knowing God knows all that is just.
There will assuredly come some times when in love, I must make corrections. In fairness to His people I am obligated to occasionally give some directions. To allow sin in my brother to go on unaddressed, is really to him quite unfair. Giving scriptural guidance to help him recover is how I his burden can share.
When one who has fallen comes back to the Lord, that is a very good reason to rejoice. To have taken time to help him return was for the benefactor a very wise choice. All of the saints who had been praying for him found joy in his steps to recovery. What one person does, has an effect on many, that is a blessed discovery.
A caring person has placed high value on every person no matter what he has done. There is gladness of heart and love is confirmed, when the prodigal finally comes home. The one who sincerely cared and gave scriptural guidance, is the one who acted with grace. It was his satisfaction that appropriate action brought him back to the appointed place.
There will be time when we are misunderstood, we will have to do what is right In spite of others who only see wrong, and are willfully blinded to light. So, we may have to act alone, and in faith follow on with the Lord. The results God intends are near at hand when we act according to the Word.
2Corinthians 7:16. “I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.”
CONFIDENCE IN YOU. What a man is Paul! They criticized his looks; they criticized his speech; they criticized his message. As far as those Corinthians, he couldn’t do anything right. He had brought them the Gospel but that didn’t seem to count for anything. He lived among them in that ungodly city, but they seemed to think that meant nothing to this man of vision. He worked with his own hands so that no one could charge him with taking their money or living off of them, but still they complained. He talked straight to them about what was wrong and what to do to put things right. He wrote to them when he was away. They couldn’t charge him with not caring about them or what happened to them. In spite of all that he tried and tried again. Why bother with such a bunch of high minded, morally low, self-centered, ungrateful, carnal people!? He couldn’t help it. They were his spiritual children and they were doing a bad job of living the Christian life and bearing a Christian testimony in the place where they were living. They weren’t fooling the people around; they weren’t fooling God (some of them had already been taken away) and they weren’t fooling the apostle who had brought them the
Gospel. Instructors could give the information; teachers could apply the truth to their situation; but there are times when only a father will do what is needed.
So even though they were such rascals, he didn’t give up on them. He praised them when and where he could rightly do so. He was comforted by them because he loved them with his heart. He rejoiced in their mourning because now he could see some light at the end of the dark tunnel of their misdeeds. He made them sorry because he had to. He didn’t take back his words of rebuke. But now he is seeing some sorrow that is leading to change. The Corinthian believers didn’t like it but finally they could see the reason. They had cleaned up their act. They had made necessary changes. They had challenged themselves and it was obvious God was at work in them. Now he could see the results and Paul is delighted. He knew the potential was there but it was hard to get the rubbish out of the way so that what was right would triumph over the wrong. Now Paul is rejoicing! Now his confidence in them is vindicated! Now he can boast again to his fellow-workers that the labor is not in vain!
Is the travail worth it? Is the separation from what we want most, worth the hassle? Is the seeming indifference of the audience, the lack of interest worth the effort of hours of preparation and minutes of delivery? Are the traveling and the sleeplessness, the outlay of money and time worth it? Isn’t there some better way I could spend my time than this? Do they even care that we care? At the moment I can’t answer these questions. But I can be confident that I have no other choice in the matter. They have instructors and teachers that are good at what they do, but they don’t have fathers – and I am one. So, I must go again and again, even though it may, at the moment, seem fruitless. I have no way of determining the value of such effort. I only have the confidence that this is the way God intended it, so that’s enough for me. God knows and I don’t. All I know that this is his method of “perfecting the saints” so I’ll keep doing it while I can.
“Father, this is for You; not them; not me but You. Every effort, every evidence of usefulness, every glimmer of light I am allowed to see is all for You and all because You are willing to use a clay pot to carry some to thirsty souls who don’t even know they need a drink. So, fill me and empty me as You see fit. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
2 Corinthians 8 GIVING WITH GRACE There are a number of ways Christians can express their fellowship with other believers. One of the best evidences of fellowship is by showing the grace of God in our giving. Outside interests often takes care of inside problems in the assemblies of God's people. The motivation that unites believers is common concern fro others; particularly when we have experienced the blessing others have been to us. Paul used the word "grace" to lift the act of giving of our substance to a high plane of Christian experience. It actually lifts giving from a mere responsibility, to an act of worship, expressing heart-felt appreciation to God.
Biblical principles and examples, such as the Macedonian assemblies, exemplified, when carried out as God intends, eliminates the need of special appeals for funds made by men. Those assembly believers had experienced "rock bottom" poverty and hardscrabble living, and yet their giving, in spite of the circumstances in which they found themselves, was considered a "grace." Giving in this way was a great joy to them and their giving was not ostentatious but full of genuine liberality. Generosity of heart does not need high pressure tactics to raise money. The whole point of grace-giving is not how much we give, but why we give and how we give to God. The reason we give is because we have genuine appreciation for God's grace to us, and love for Him is our real motivation. "We love Him, because He first loved us." With that kind of motivation, the "how" part of giving is sacrificial giving, which is very different that tithing or proportionate giving. This goes way beyond being just the right thing to do, to where there is real joy in being able to participate with God in that which is close to His heart - the welfare and well-being of His children.
Interest in the kingdom of God and its interests, links us to other believers and increases our vision to include the interests of God's people in other places of the harvest field. Informing the Lord's people of a need is not soliciting funds. People are motivated when they learn how they can have part in a work and meet needs to the best of their ability. Voluntary and enthusiastic giving gave satisfaction to the Macedonian assemblies. The interests of the people of God gathered to the name and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, find their supreme example for giving in Him. Those believers gave themselves to God first and from then on sacrificially gave of their substance in the way He showed by His life. He gave His all. Living by faith is a characteristic of the just. We trust the Lord to give us guidance and direction in life. Our commitment is to speak the truth of God in love and live out what we teach and preach. Applying biblical truth has positive effects on those who know we have unchanging values based on the standard of the scriptures. We learn to be biblical by studying the Bible, first for the correct interpretation, and then to apply that truth in practical application to the affairs of life.
Earnestness in Gospel testimony and preaching is a characteristic of those who gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of giving by God's people makes possible the outreach of the Gospel in far-off fields as well as in harvest fields near at hand. This grace is enforced and demonstrated to be genuine when love to each other and the part of believers, and love to all men is evident, not only by words but also by deeds. The grace of giving is shown to be real when the saints give from their hearts to the Lord Himself. Growth in faith is directly proportionate to how we apply ourselves to the word of God and the truths we practice in assemblies where we have our united testimony. Knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ comes when we read and practice the things our Lord taught and did when He was here on earth. Love and its expression in giving increases our capacity for ministry in all the areas of our lives. Advice in giving is much easier to accept than commands to give when demanded by men who have an agenda they want to promote.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ was unmistakable. He set aside His glory to be "found in fashion as a man." He exchanged His eternal riches for human poverty, and subjected Himself voluntarily to human limitations. In that way God's character was reveal in humanity in a way with which mankind can identify. This is what God intends from us; His character made visible obvious in human flesh. The quantity of giving is not what counts, but the quality. The Old Testament gathering of manna by the children of Israel gave a good illustration of what God intends from His people today. We are not to be greedy or lazy in our giving and receiving. The blessing that really counts is to the one who gives as much, or more, than the ones who receive.
Principles in giving are not complicated. we must be willing to give, or it has no real value. Our giving is to meet the needs of others, not for what we benefit from it. Gratefulness to the Lord is our response and the motivating power behind the action of sincere giving. Each person who gives to the Lord needs to be committed to the promise they make as to how much they give to the Lord from what they have received from Him, for His use in the kingdom of God and that of His people. Each person should give as much as they are able. God knows that amount and so does each individual believer. We know personally what our obligations are and how much we need to meet them. That determines the proportionate amount we need to give to meet them. God has given us everything we have and He knows we should give realistically from what we have, not from what we do not have.
The handling of funds in an assembly should be carefully and faithfully dealt with by those who can be trusted. There should be no cause for blame in those who handle funds that have been given to God by people. Paul, Titus and another brother whose praise was in the Gospel, were responsible men who had been tried and proven. Integrity in handling money must be maintained. The purpose for which funds are given must be met. Financial practices must be above board. Our motive for giving is that by faith, we believe God can use this to bring spiritual blessings to others. Material blessings from giving by grace are out of a desire to serve the people of God, to further the Gospel so sinners will be saved, and to honor God.
These physical things given by God's people are made to become spiritual things to be used for a spiritual ministry. Honoring God with our substance, lifts the common practice of meeting needs to a spiritual dimension. One who handles holy things of whatever kind they are, must have a reputation for being blameless in the public, and cooperative with those who labor with him. Such people are representatives of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 8:9. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”
GOING BEYOND THE NORM. Needs are real: not always near at hand but far afield, in desperation voices rise to call on God. Crying children – hungry mothers take food from their own plates – to stave off the inevitable – Unless - unless from far away, another voice comes to the throne of grace and says, “Here am I.” There in homes and groups of praying, working people, comes the needed response, “Send me.”
The example is given – there is none higher than He – from Him we learn how grace really works.
The need of all humanity was before Him – the ultimate glory of divine holiness all around Him. “He made Himself of no reputation” – “…for your sakes He became poor…” – from riches to poverty. “Obedient unto death even the death of the cross” – there was no farther He could go – no other way.
Because He went beyond what was normal – we live – we have eternal life – we are children of God. Where sin abound, grace did much more abound – way beyond what was normal or could be expected. The exceeding riches of His grace will be forever seen – because He went beyond even normal grace. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly – beyond our wildest dreams – He went beyond the norm.
Now, how about us – are we willing to go beyond the extent of our comfort – go farther than normal? People of poverty often give with abundance – how about people of abundance – do we give? It begins way before tithes or offerings – there is a willingness to give ourselves – unhesitatingly. Then it moves to be willing of ourselves – beyond normal – beyond our power – give to God.
From affliction and trial comes the real joy of giving – far greater than the weekly normal. A sacrifice of self to the Lord – “I am His, purchased by His blood” – then giving to the will of God. From poverty comes abundance – from giving comes abounding grace – from abounding grace… Comes love, sincere, Christ-like love – and other are helped and blessed by those going beyond the norm.
“Father God, “normal” sounds insipid. It sounds so casual and uncaring. It is right alongside of the word “lukewarm.” I do not want to be like this. Give me the power and willingness to live above what is average. If this nest of mine needs to be stirred up, please do so. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”