A Divine Jealousy

Reading:  2 Corinthians 11:1-11
    
    Paul warns that he is about to engage in “a little foolishness”(2 Cor 11:1) by presenting his credentials as an apostle to combat the charges of his opponents in Corinth.  Why will he do this?  “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ”(2 Cor 11:2).  He is jealous because he wants them to continue the commitment they have made to Jesus.  “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough”(2 Cor 11:3-4).  Paul is deeply concerned that the Corinthians are ready to leave the Lord for another Jesus, another spirit, even another gospel.  This irks him and leads him to argue from his “foolishness.”

    One of the accusations Paul faces is that he refused to accept pay from the Corinthians while working with them.  Somehow they view this as a slight rather than a blessing.  “Did I commit a sin” by doing this (2 Cor 11:7)?  “I robbed other churches”(2 Cor 11:8) by taking their support while in Corinth and even then, “I did not burden anyone” in Corinth (2 Cor 11:9).  “And why?  Because I do not love you?  God knows I do!”(2 Cor 11:11).  They see his refusal to accept money as a sign of his lack of love; Paul says it proves the opposite.

    Sometimes it is difficult to separate my concern for my brother from my personal hurt.  Paul has been hurt and personally attacked by the Corinthians, yet he insists that he has “a divine jealousy” for them.  This letter is less about justifying himself than ensuring that they remain faithful to Jesus.  Sometimes we will be hurt by others, but this is not the supreme issue.  “Divine jealousy” is appropriate.  I should have a passion for my brothers to continue faithful to Jesus no matter what.

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One Thing to Think About:  Do I ever struggle distinguishing personal hurt from concern from my brother?

One Thing to Pray For:  A divine jealousy for my brothers and sisters
 

The Sphere God Has Assigned Us

Reading:  2 Corinthians 10:13-18
    
    It is hard to miss Paul’s critics in the background of this section.  He defends himself against charges that he and his fellow-workers are “overextending ourselves”(2 Cor 10:14) by claiming them as his converts.  He insists that he does not “boast beyond limit in the labor of others”(2 Cor 10:15) and refuses to commend himself (2 Cor 10:18).  These critics have grown territorial, arguing that Paul has no right to claim authority among them (despite the fact that Paul helped start the church in Corinth) because this is not his sphere or “area of influence”(2 Cor 10:13, 15-16).  Perhaps these opponents also claim their own authority as apostles (2 Cor 11:5, 12).

    So Paul pushes back:  “But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.  For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you.  For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ”(2 Cor 10:13-14).  Paul has a sphere of influence God has assigned him which most certainly includes Corinth.  He reminds them that he was, by the work and assignment of God, the first to teach them about Jesus.  He also contends that he enjoys preaching in completely untouched places (see Rom 15:20).  But he also has a broader rebuke:  this is not about building a resume or gaining followers for himself.  “‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’  For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends”(2 Cor 10:17-18).  Jesus’ approval is what matters.

    Paul only boasts in “the area of influence God assigned to us.”  We have limits.  We cannot fix every problem, meet every need, and convert every person.  Yet God is not disappointed in our limits; he merely wants us to serve in the sphere he has given us.  In our homes and neighborhoods, in our workplaces and churches, with our friends and family, there is sufficient work to occupy us forever.  Rather than comparing with others or seeking to impress others, we must learn to accept our sphere and boast only in Jesus.

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One Thing to Think About:  What “sphere” has God assigned me?

One Thing to Pray For:  Freedom from the desire to impress others
 

The Comparison Problem

Reading:  2 Corinthians 10:7-12
    
    Paul is defending himself against some in Corinth who are undermining his influence.  He lists one of the prominent accusations against him.  “I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters.  For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account’”(2 Cor 10:10).  They mock Paul’s letters as stronger and harsher than he actually is in person.  It is a way of discrediting the power of what he has written.  “Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present”(2 Cor 10:11).  Paul rejects this idea with the ominous pronouncement that when he comes, his words will be matched by strong actions.

    Yet even here, Paul cautions them not to take him the wrong way.  “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves.  But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding”(2 Cor 10:12).  In his defense of himself, Paul doesn’t want the Corinthians to think that he is like these opponents.  Such people continually “measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another” in efforts to appear more important, successful, and worthy of respect than others.  Paul is not stooping to the methods of others—trying to demean and badmouth so that he looks better by comparison.  When we use such tactics, we “are without understanding.”  

    The comparison problem is that we often feel that our only value is found in comparison to others.  I must find others who look worse than me.  The respect and attention I desire is only found at the expense of others.  Paul insists that this is not the way true servants of God should think of themselves.  We don’t need comparisons to make ourselves look better.  We already matter to God.  More, such personal attacks only distract from the significant spiritual issues we must navigate as we work together and seek to please God.  Comparison gets me no closer to God or others.  When we use such tactics, we “are without understanding.”  

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One Thing to Think About:  Do I ever make myself feel better by looking down on others?

One Thing to Pray For:  The security to trust that God’s love is what makes me valuable
 

Take Every Thought Captive

Reading:  2 Corinthians 10:1-6
    
    Paul begins here to defend himself against some of the criticisms of the Corinthians.  He especially wants them to make some changes now so that his visit to them will be pleasant rather than painful (see 2 Cor 1:23, 2:1).  “I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when I am away!—I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh”(2 Cor 10:1-2).  Some in Corinth have accused Paul of being weak in person and bold in letter; he urges them to change so that he doesn’t have to prove them wrong!  If they continue on their present course, his visit will not be as weak as they suspect.

    Yet Paul stresses that this is not about physical intimidation.  “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”(2 Cor 10:4-5).  Paul has neither physical methods nor physical goals.  His battle is with arguments, opinions, and thoughts that are hostile to Jesus.  He is fighting for the very soul of the Corinthian church; he will fight for it from a distance and in person.  In engagements like these, physical weakness or strength (see v. 10) is meaningless.  The Corinthians misunderstand Paul because they misunderstand the nature of spiritual warfare.

    Paul’s goal is to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  He is convinced that the Corinthians’ thoughts matter and wants to win them over.  Obedience to Jesus begins in the mind.  The mind must be won.  It is not enough to give Christ my body; it is not enough to give him some of my thoughts.  I cannot rest until my every thought is captive to his leadership, tuned to obedience. 

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One Thing to Think About:  Have I ever mistaken physical weakness for spiritual weakness?

One Thing to Pray For:  Purity in thought
 

Enriched by Giving

Reading:  2 Corinthians 9:6-15
    
    How should Christians give?  “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”(2 Cor 9:6).  Sowing and reaping mean that we surrender something in the present in anticipation of a future blessing.  We are confident that God notices our sacrifice and will supply our lack.  This makes our giving a joy rather than a drudgery:  “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”(2 Cor 9:7).  We give of our own goodwill, eagerly and cheerfully. 

    And Paul insists that God blesses givers.  “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work”(2 Cor 9:8).  God’s gifts to us (“all grace”) enables our gifts to others.  He assures us that giving will not prevent us having “all sufficiency in all things at all times.”  God will supply.  “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God”(2 Cor 9:10-11).  There is something counterintuitive here.  Giving does not enrich us, yet here we are promised that we “will be enriched in every way.”  We have more when we give away what we have.

    God blesses givers.  God loves a cheerful giver.  We do not give ourselves into poverty.  Yet the enrichment of this text is spiritual—so that we may abound in every good work (v. 8), so that we can be generous (v. 11), and to increase our harvest of righteousness (v. 10).  Giving enriches us when its spiritual blessings outweigh the advantages of keeping our money.  When we are blessed with the opportunity to give, we need eyes to see how it blesses others, glorifies God, and fulfills our purpose.  

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One Thing to Think About:  Do I truly believe that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”(Acts 20:35)?

One Thing to Pray For:  The faith to sow bountifully by giving to others