2 Corinthians 9:8-11

2 Corinthians 9:8-11 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”  Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Paul is telling the Corinthians that they can trust God to take care of them if they are generous with what they have.  God will make his grace abound to them, so his grace can overflow to others through them.  This is true.  As we walk in the Lord and learn of him, we should have a sufficient harvest of the Spirit in our lives to share the fruit of the Spirit with others.  And Paul is not merely speaking of money or material wealth.  He says, You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  In other words, the results of God's blessing do not stop with one person; they spread to others as we share the blessings of the Lord.  This is true of our worldly goods, this is true when we serve one another in love, and this is true when we share our testimonies of what God has done for us.  The love of God multiplies as it is shared.  As we give of ourselves, the kingdom of God advances.  As Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."  (John 12:24 KJV) 

Every day of our lives, God provides opportunities for us to grow in grace, opportunities for his grace to abound in our lives.  As Paul would probably say, opportunities for us to die to our fleshly desires and to come alive in Christ.  These are literal choices to either serve the flesh or the spirit.  We can invest our money, time, and energy in this world and what it has to offer or we can invest in God's kingdom, his people, and his purposes.  James hits this topic head on when he says that pure religion is to look after the widows and the orphans and to keep ourselves from the pollution of this world.  He becomes even more pointed as he writes, Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  (James 2:15-17)  Now we might not think or say these specific words, but our actions or more likely our inaction says exactly that.  In ignoring the pain and sorrow of others by failing to minister to the physical needs of those around us, we fail to do the works of the kingdom of God.  We may pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done," but we are not putting feet to those prayers.

As we have been going through all of these verses on giving, I have wondered why Paul spent so much time on this topic.  He seems to be stuck in a rut, but I think the Holy Spirit through Paul saw a big inconsistency in the church at Corinth.  He saw people talking a great deal about their faith but a people unwilling to follow through, unwilling to keep their promises, unwilling to make the sacrifices that would bring blessing to others.  Are there commitments in your life that you need to fulfill?  Are there people you need to bless?  Are there financial needs that you could help alleviate?  These could be situations as simple as watching the children of a young mom who is stressed and overwhelmed from the pressures of taking care of her little family every day with little or no support or giving a gift of money to a couple on a limited income so they can enjoy a meal out.  You could go and mow the lawn for an elderly neighbor or take a pie to a family that has been on your mind.  Anything that equates loving and serving will do--generosity from a cheerful heart is the goal, and grace will abound to you in every good work.  Love, Mom (Jacqueline, sitting in for Dad today)

2 Corinthians 1:1-7

2 Corinthians 1:1-7  There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints.  For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.  But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.  For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we — not to say anything about you — would be ashamed of having been so confident.  So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised.  Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Paul desires the Corinthians to complete their intended gift to the Jerusalem church.  He sends three "good" men ahead of him to help the Corinthians accomplish this task.  In this passage, he reminds the Corinthians that he has been boasting to the Macedonians about their willingness to help the Jerusalem church; therefore, he would like see their gift to the Jerusalem church collected and ready for him when he arrives, so he won't be embarrassed by his boasting of them.  These scriptures definitely sound as if the Corinthians were very excited a year ago about giving to the Jerusalem church but now are somewhat reluctant to complete the task by ACTUALLY GIVING.  Paul reminds them in this letter to implement their initial desires with actions.  He also encourages them to give generously and joyfully, not reluctantly.  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  As with all activities in the body of Christ, Christians should be motivated by divine love, Christ's love.  We should be motivated by the Spirit of the Lord within us to do the works of the body of Christ, for we are his hand extended to a hurting and needy world.

These ideas of reaping and sowing and giving cheerfully are central to the Christian message.  We know that if we sow to the flesh, we reap flesh, and if we sow to the Spirit, we reap Spirit.  Quite simply, in a very real sense, we are what we eat.  If I feed my fleshly old man, he grows stronger each day, but if I minister to the new creation within, then the Spirit of God takes more and more control of my life and I become more like Jesus, more willing to be conformable to his desires and his will for my life.  Yes, God loves a cheerful giver.  God loves a committed servant and a dutiful son or daughter; He loves children who are quick to listen and ready to obey his voice, in the little things and the big things.  We learn obedience one step at a time as we begin to say, "Yes," to God when opportunities to serve and to give arise in our lives.  

Recently at our church, we received baby bottles that we took home to fill up with money in support of families who want to adopt children and who need financial support.  Here is an area where we can be like the Corinthian church--where we can have our offerings ready and bring them back gladly on Father's Day to give to those in need of encouragement.  Each of us knows of other areas where help is needed: missionaries, orphans, church plants and so on.  A few months ago, Jacqueline and I began sending a monthly offering to Charity Lanman, a missionary supported by Evergreen Church, who gives herself unselfishly under harsh and dangerous conditions in Nyinbuli, Sudan.  Whatever the need or the people God has placed on your heart, as with Paul, I urge you to give as the Lord has given to you, not grudgingly, not because you have an excess to give, not out of guilt, but gladly; and you will know the joy that comes from walking in the Spirit and obeying the Law of Love, the perfect will of your Father in Heaven.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24

2 Corinthians 8:16-24  I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.  For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.  And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.  What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.  We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.  For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.  In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.  As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ.  Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. 

The will of God for Paul at this time was to collect money from various churches for the struggling Jerusalem church.  He desired to be above reproach in this activity, especially in collecting money from the troubled Corinthian church.  In many ways they were a church out of control and suspicious of Paul.  Therefore, Paul sent three upstanding men, one his partner Titus, to collect the Corinthian donations.  By sending three good men, Paul was attempting to alleviate the Corinthians' fears that their offering might be used in an inappropriate way or that it might not reach its Jerusalem destination.  Paul was taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.  He was making sure that the Corinthians could have confidence their money would actually get to Jerusalem to do the good for which it was intended.

In the church and out of the church, men and women should be able to trust our words.  We should not be lax in our interactions with others.  For sure, we should keep our word within the body of Christ.  Sometimes in Christian circles, men and women easily forsake their promises.  "Yes, I will teach Sunday school next week," or "I will bring treats to our next gathering," or "You can count on me to be there early," but as readily as they make those promises, they drop or forget them.  And sadly, sometimes they violate their words merely because of a peripheral concern or an existential whim--"Something came up," or "It is such a nice day out," or "It's been a long day and I'm tired," or "I just don't feel like it."  Our words should be trusted.  Paul wanted his words to be trusted; he wanted to win over the Corinthians' confidence.  He even sent three good men to validate his words and concerns.  

We also should want to win over others with our upright words and actions.  We are our Heavenly Father's representatives here on Earth; therefore, our words should be HIS.  WE SHOULD SPEAK AND ACT AS HE WOULD.  We would not treat our employers as we sometimes treat our Heavenly Father, for we would get fired, but many times our Heavenly Father and his church are treated exactly in this capricious way.  As Christians we know we are bought with a price, that we are not our own.  When we act as if we are our own, when we violate our own words or break our promises to God and to the community of believers, we not only look bad, we are a reproach to God.  Of course we all have good excuses.  But I am afraid our whimsical attitude toward keeping our word will not hold up in the court of the righteous judge.  He knows the true intent of our hearts.  Therefore, let us do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.  Let us do what is right with joy and gladness unto the Lord who loves us and gave himself for us.

2 Corinthians 8:10-15

2 Corinthians 8:10-15  And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.  Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.  For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.  Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.  Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.” 

Sometimes our hearts are in the right place, but we can't give much to the church or to people in need because we don't have sufficient funds to give.  However, under those circumstances, what we do give is totally acceptable because our hearts desire to give.  A Christian's attitude about giving is very important, for it reflects his maturity in Christ and his commitment to the body of Christ.  If Christians don't desire to help their church or fellow believers, then something is wrong with their brand of Christianity.  Since Christ served us, we should want to serve others.  If we are parsimonious in our giving, we definitely do not reflect God's generosity towards us, for He loved us so much that He willingly gave his only son.  Real love desires to give, and real giving requires sacrifice.  

Any close relationship depends on giving, either of ourselves or of our substance.  We cannot have a close family if we are unwilling to provide for each other.  Dads and moms cannot express unrelenting love to their children unless they are willing to unselfishly give of themselves.  So it is with the family of God: we cannot say we love the body of Christ and not share with others.  Love doesn't work that way, and especially the love of Christ doesn't work that way.  Our pastor often says that you should be giving somewhere, if not to our church, then to some other church or to people in need.  If you find yourself not giving to anyone outside of your family, you might be reflecting a self-centered world, a world revolving only around you and your wants and needs.  

In today's passage, Paul notes the Corinthians' eagerness to give to the destitute Jerusalem church.  Their desire was in the right place.  Now, Paul says they need to complete that aspiration by actually giving.  People sometimes say, "We should give to missionaries."  But then they don't.  "We should help the poor."  But then they don't.  Paul says, now finish the work.  Actually do it.  Good intentions don't complete the work.  Actions do.  Remember the old saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  James basically said, "Don't tell me how much faith you have in God; show me your faith by your works."  If you believe God loves the poor, then show it by helping the poor.  If you believe God wants missionaries, then show it by supporting them.  If you believe God intends for you to have a church to attend, then show it by your giving.  Giving of yourself or giving of your means validates your faith, confirms your belief in God.  

If you fail to serve or to give, you are basically living in unbelief and hypocrisy.  You are saying one thing, but you are living another.  Now, we are all tempted to do that at times, for the flesh is present in all of us.  However, let us not be so ready to state our Christian beliefs if our actions and how we use our money undermine our words, for we will be a disconcerting force in the world and not a constructive force.  We don't want our children and acquaintances to become religious in their words, and not to portray Christ in their lives.  We don't want them to attend church because it is a good thing; we want them to LIVE FOR GOD IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD, doing the works of Christ.  Therefore, children, let the Lord complete his work in you by giving as He leads you to give, freely and cheerfully to spread the gospel of Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

2 Corinthians 8:1-9  And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.  And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.  So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.  But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

In the above passage,  Paul refers to the Macedonian's generous gift of money to the destitute church in Jerusalem.  The Jerusalem church was going through very difficult times, and the Macedonian church came to their aide by giving money to them.  The Macedonian Christians gave out of their extreme poverty, not out of their wealth.  Their dedication and love for Christ compelled them to give to HIS BODY in Jerusalem.  Paul was very proud of them for their generous gift; now he is beseeching the Corinthians to do likewise, to be generous in their giving regardless of their wealth.  See that you also excel in this grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.  Paul begins this passage with "brothers," a term indicating Christians' family relationship.  Who would stand by and allow a  member of the family go without, to go hungry, to go without shelter?  He is challenging the Corinthians to be real Christians, true members of the body of Christ, not just saying, "I love you," but willing to give sacrificially of their means.  

In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus asked, “Which of these three (priest, Levite, Samaritan) do you think was a neighbor (a brother) to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"  The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."  Jesus told him, "GO AND DO LIKEWISE."  (Luke 10:36-37)  We who are in Christ are brothers and sisters to each other.  We are not autonomous anymore, alone to do our own thing, but we are members of his spiritual body here on Earth.  Because we are enveloped into his Spirit, we should be moved by HIS SPIRIT, not OURS.  In the past I had the privilege of serving on the church board in two different denominations.  And one thing I realized by being on those two boards is that religious ideals and objectives often take a backseat when money issues are discussed.  Grace, mercy, and love, and even vision are sometimes lost when money is on the table.  Many times the room would become exceedingly quiet.  Voices would change, almost as if NOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.  Now this was not completely true, for they were all good Christians, but money-talk seemed to change the demeanor and focus of many meetings.  Now the aspect of praying for sister Jones or starting a new Sunday school class or developing an outreach into the surrounding community seemed to lose their place at the table.  Money appeared to shove everything else aside.  I often wondered during those times, is money what is REALLY IMPORTANT to the church?  Is this the way the body of Christ should think about life?  Is everything else secondary to money?  

I do not want to be excessively negative here, for people of good faith, wonderful Christians, were on those councils, but money-talk sometimes occluded the real purposes of the meeting.  Sometimes money seemed to bring the fleshly part of us to the table.  For all of us, beginning with Cliff Bursch, must be cautious about placing money in front of God's plans.  As we read, the Macedonians gave out of their poverty, they gave out of good hearts, they gave out of faith, they gave cheerfully.  We must also give likewise.  As Christians there will be times we give out of poverty, and times we give out of plenty.  But regardless, our focus should be the same: we give as the Spirit leads us, not just out of compulsion.  WE SHOULD NOT BE MANIPULATED BY OTHERS TO GIVE, BUT WE SHOULD GIVE OUT OF OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST.  Yes, we are brothers and sisters in Christ; we are members of the body of Christ.  We do his will, not ours, not the will of others.  We follow him.  Our spirits should always be attuned to his voice, and his voice is a voice of love and giving because though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 7:12-16

2 Corinthians 7:12-16  In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.  I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me.  But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.  And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.  I am glad I can have complete confidence in you. 

Do people boast about your life as a Christian?  Have you changed since you believed in Christ?  Sadly, some people take Jesus into their lives and then continue on IN their old ways.  They go to the same places, have communion with the same debilitating people, lead unregenerated lives rather than righteous lives.  If Titus visited your home, could he boast in what you are doing and in what you are saying?  Would he feel at home with your associates?  Would he agree with the words that emanate from your mouth?  These are questions requiring an answer.  We sometimes fool ourselves in believing God puts a stamp of approval on our lifestyles, no matter what we do.  He won't, He doesn't if we reject change.  All things should become new to us once we are saved: old ways, habits, lifestyles, even companions should be put aside if they are in any way destructive to our new life.  As we become new inwardly, our desires and choices should reflect that newness.  Paul was  extremely happy with Titus' testimony of the Corinthians, for Titus relayed to Paul the Corinthians' progress in their faith and their reflection of Christ in their lives.  Were the Corinthians perfect?  No, for even in this letter, Paul still advises them to live an exemplary life in Christ.  He still encourages them to be strong witnesses for the Lord--to bless people with their love and zeal for the Lord and with their material goods.  

We should also be progressing in our daily walk.  Not only should we attempt to do good, but as we walk in the Lord our basic instinct in life is so changed that we also desire to please him at all times.  As the Bible says, Christians should reckon themselves dead to sin, by no longer serving their sinful desires and doing wicked acts or displaying their Godless NATURE.  If we allow the old man to remain alive in us, we do harm to the regenerating work of the cross within us.  We then fail to progress IN CHRIST, for we betray HIS work that He has begun in us.  If our lifestyle mimics the world, how can Jesus' light be clearly revealed and seen.  What hope of eternal life do we present to the world if we send a message of hypocrisy to them?   Our acquaintances will easily realize our lives betray our words.  If this is true, we are merely spouting another philosophy; we are another empty windbag, consisting of nothing but hot air, pointless and anointless words, for tomorrow we die.  

As Christians we always need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit within us, for He is in us to help and to guide us.  He shows us what it means to be IN CHRIST.  If you have failed or are lacking in spiritual gifts, all is not lost, for it is Christ in you the hope of glory.  The great mystery of the Christian life is that we are IN CHIRST AND HE IS IN US.  But we should live that reality.  When we find our lives shallow, unproductive, lacking signs of regeneration, we should pay attention to the Holy Spirit within us.  He is always attuning us to Christ's walk, behavior, and attitude; otherwise, conforming us to the will of God.  As Jesus did, becoming nothing so God could be everything, so do we.  We die daily to the old man's will, so Christ can be the Lord of our lives and live through us.  If we live such a life, others will see Christ in us.  We will be that "peculiar" people the Bible describes--God's elect.  However, if we reflect ourselves, if the fleshly self is too much alive in us, no one will see the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, CHRIST JESUS.  Children of God, put on the whole armor of God; stand as He stands against the nature and the wiles of this world.  This is a challenge to all us, but if Titus, full of the Holy Spirit, would come and visit our homes, would he send back a good report to Paul, or would he be somewhat sad?

2 Corinthians 7:8-13

2 Corinthians 7:8-13  Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it — I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while — yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.  For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.  So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.  By all this we are encouraged.

Paul had written an earlier letter that seemingly reprimanded the Corinthians for their lack of fidelity to him as their spiritual father and to the gospel he preached.  People had come into the Corinthian church with a distorted view of the scriptures and of Paul's apostolic authority.  This earlier letter of reprimand was quite severe, so Paul was apprehensive about how the Corinthians received his letter.  But through Titus' account, he discovered that the Corinthians were repentant and conciliatory.  Of course, their repentant reaction to his rebuke encouraged Paul's heart greatly, for he did not want the Corinthian church destroyed or contaminated by false teachers.  

The major theme of the above passage is that Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  There is no "I am sorry" in terms of worldly sorrow, for Paul is saying that worldly sorrow does not lead to repentance.  Godly sorrow says, "I am sorry," and then leads to a new direction.  There is no regret from Paul over the Corinthians' godly sorrow, for he now knows these people have no regret and are now free from bitterness and anger.  Godly sorrow does not lead to retribution and hurt.  Worldly sorrow many times looks forward to reciprocation and justification: the striking back syndrome--an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.  Godly sorrow leads to new beginnings; worldly sorrow leads to dark corridors of resentment.  Paul is encouraged by the Corinthians response to his letter.  He knows that his difficult words to them bettered their lives, for they received them well.  If they would have resisted him, disagreed with him vehemently, pushed back, they would have not gained anything from his instruction.  By accepting his words of correction, they were on the winning side of the conflict.  Their souls benefited greatly.  

Most of us find it hard to take correction, even when we know the other person is right.  I once was called into my principal's office to discuss a new direction the school was taking.  I was a confidante of this principal, and as a high profile teacher in his school, I had significant influence on the staff.  I was not in favor of this new direction and openly expressed my views in front of the other teachers.  He called me into his office and said, "Cliff, you are becoming very negative."  Now as I sat there, I could have defended my position.  In fact the new direction eventually failed, but rather than do that, I heard the Holy Spirit counseling me to say, "I am sorry, you're right."  For he was right: I was becoming a disruptive force, not a cohesive force.  I was bringing dissension, not harmony.  His reprimand was correct.  I then told him that I would turn around and become more positive in my interactions with the staff.  I walked out of his office determined to be more supportive of him, for as the boss, he deserved my wholehearted support,  just as Paul deserved the Corinthians' support.  Was that hard?  Yes, because I felt I was right.  But I was wrong, for my disagreement with the policy was causing dissension and trouble.  Godly sorrow brings life.  Worldly sorrow brings death.  I am so glad that I can look back at that response and many similar responses with satisfaction and a thankful heart.  Godly repentance leads to peace.  I have had to say, "I am sorry," many times in my life, outside of the family and inside the family.  But in each case, positive results came from that heartfelt response.  True repentance brings God on the scene and His concomitant peace and love--the fruit of the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 7:2-7

2 Corinthians 7:2-7  Make room for us in your hearts.  We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.  I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.  I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you.  I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.  For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears within.  But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him.  He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. 

Paul's life at this time was very traumatic, for he said we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears within.  Paul, the mighty man of faith, the father of many churches, expresses in this passage his need for love and concern from others.  He felt that he had been harsh with the Corinthians in previous letters, but now he was encouraged by Titus, for Titus relayed to Paul how much the Corinthians loved him.  Paul needed to hear these words of encouragement from Titus.  They brought great joy to his heart, for Paul loved the Corinthians so much that he would willingly die for them.  Now, he heard of their words of reciprocating love.  

If Paul the apostle needed people caring for him, loving him, praying for him, how much more do we, average believers, need people loving us.  The journey through life for all of us is often difficult and challenging.  As with Paul in the above passage, sometimes we are stretched beyond our capabilities to endure.  Then we need others to come along side us and help us to live successfully and victoriously.  Like Paul, many times we need a message of encouragement from someone, a visit, a phone call, a card, an email.  We need someone to say that he is standing by us, praying for us.  If we don't hear such words, the journey is even more difficult because we feel we are facing the struggles of life alone.  As members  of the body of Christ, the questions we must ask ourselves are: Where is our prayer life?  Who do we pray for?  What communication do we have with those outside of our family?  Do we send cards of comfort or encouragement?  Is our hospitality lacking?  Do we weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice?  Do we really care about others?  Do we care about the body of Christ?  The body of Christ is one; we are all connected as one body.  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (2 Corinthians 12:27)  Recently a good friend of ours experienced a loss.  We expressed concern and we prayed.  Although we talked about sending a plant with a card, things got in the way, and we did not follow through with that plan.  How much better it would have been if we had.  We need to put feet to our prayers and good intentions.

Paul loved the Corinthian church and it touched him deeply to know that this was a reciprocal love.  That is how the body should function.  That is what the world should see in the church--God's love in action, working in and through us and reaching out to others.  John speaks often of God's love.  He says, How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  (1 John 3:1)  And he understood that as his children, we become his ambassadors, lights in a dark world as John goes on to say.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  (1 John 3:2)  Today you may be the one who is struggling and even then, that is a good time to reach out to someone else who is in need.  There is strength in the body.  Jesus said where two or three come together in his name, there He is in the midst of them--there is power and authority when we gather together in Christ and lift each other up.  So whatever it is that God wants you to do today, just do it, and you will be blessed and so will someone else.  Others will say, "God comforted me by your coming."

2 Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1

2 Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1  For we are the temple of the living God.  As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”  “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”  “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”  Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

2 Peter 3:11-14  What kind of people ought you to be?  You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.  That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.  So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Since we are temples of the living God, we should purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.  Peter says, What kind of people ought you to be as you look forward to the day of God?  Paul states that we should make EVERY EFFORT to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God.  I think Christians sometimes treat their lives like septic tanks.  (Gross, but I got your attention.)  They willingly assimilate the contamination of the world by mimicking the world, partaking of the goodies and the experiences of the society around them.  They desire to live as the world does except they go to church.  In their spiritual lives, they desire God to be there every time they call on him.  When they are in church, they often recommit or rededicate their lives to please God, but many times their spiritual offerings result in few lasting changes, for they quickly go back into their old lifestyles and live precisely as they please.  It does us little good to empty our container of filth if our intentions are to allow our lives to be filled up again with the dross of the world.  OUR WORLDLY LIFESTYLES NEED TO CHANGE IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE VICTORY IN OUR LIVES.  

Well, what about the blood of the Lord?  Doesn't He make us clean, new?  Yes, but we must not allow our cleansed container, our new creature, to be contaminated by the world by aping the lifestyle and experiences of the world.  If we do so, we fill it up with this world.  OUR WITNESS DIMS.  WE FORFEIT OUR TRUE PURPOSE ON EARTH, OUR AMBASSADORSHIP.  As I listen to the media church with its emphasis on self-promotion, I realize our Christian lives have pretty much been filled up with worldly thoughts.  If anyone wants to sell a book on Christian television, he/she better have a book telling Christians they can be all that they have ever wanted to be here on earth.  Otherwise, what the book is really selling is that you can have all the goodies this world offers: wealth, security, love, material possessions, and a walk with God.  Of course, you must buy the book or send money if you are going to receive all these wonderful earthly blessings.  Christians purchase these books by the thousands and send millions of dollars to support that kind of television ministry.  This, of course, indicates their new containers, their spiritual tanks, have been contaminated by the garbage of the world: the desires of the world, the love of the world.  

In the above scriptures, Peter and Paul were not telling the Christians to live godly lives because of personal gain or self-aggrandizement.  In fact Peter talks directly against such an idea.  They are telling us to live godly lives for Christ's sake and the sake of his church.  By living as Jesus would want us to live, we are his valid witnesses.  We are his light to a dark world.  We testify of God's righteousness, his glory.  Christians should not be looking for streets of gold here on Earth.  Does God bless Christians?  Yes, He does, but the adversities and struggles you are going through right now might also be his blessings.  He might be emptying you of that dross and cleaning your container from the inside out, making you capable of receiving the glory of God, as HIS TRUE SERVANT, making you into a person who can exemplify Jesus Christ's spirit: Your ATTITUDE should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, BUT MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!  (Philippians 2:5-8)  ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE TODAY TO YOUR WANTS, DESIRES AND LIFESTYLE?  ARE YOU WILLING TO BE HIS SERVANT?  If you are, you will find abundant life in him: a life of purpose, a life of fruitfulness, a life of joy.

2 Corinthians 6:11-18

2 Corinthians 6:11-18  We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.  We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.  As a fair exchange — I speak as to my children — open wide your hearts also.  Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?  What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God.  As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”  “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”  “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers; do not pull together with them to accomplish evil or to worship other Gods than the Almighty.  Paul is talking to people whose culture was immersed in worshipping pagan Gods.  Therefore, he encouraged the Corinthians to cut all ties with their former life of paganism.  He reminded them that they are now the temple of the living God, members of the household of God, representatives of the eternal, only true and living God.  Consequently, what fellowship is there between false gods and the only true God?  What does righteousness have to do with wickedness?  Light with darkness?  Our fellowship, our yoking together, should be with believers and not with the unredeemed.  We should always open our hearts wide to believers.  We should participate in their lives the best we can.  We should love them and care for them for we are fellow members in the family of God.  

Does this mean that we should not participate in the world or love the people of the world?  No, we should love everyone; we should care about all people whether they are sinful or not.  Christ loved the world; He gave his life for the world.  Therefore, we also should love the people of the world.  However, we should not be working (yoked) together with them to further darkness such as worshipping other gods.  If a compatriot wants you to do something wrong, even if it is a little wrong, you should not participate, for you are not to be yoked together with people to accomplish evil.  We are the temples of the living God; we represent him in everything we do.  As Christians we should be upright and honest in all of our activities.  We should be above reproach.  Whenever someone tells us to take a shortcut in life, pay less taxes than we owe, unite with someone who is not a Christian, sell something for more than it is worth, live a sexually impure life and so on, we know as sons or daughters of the MOST HIGH that trouble is on the horizon.  As the saying goes, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure this out.  

God desires our lives to reflect him; He wants us to walk this world as his children, set apart unto him.  Therefore, he wants us to come out of our old lifestyles, not to reflect the OLD MAN or the OLD WOMAN, but to reflect HIS LIFE that is within us.  He tells us to come out from them and be separate, separate from that which would pull us back into the ways of the world.  Yes, we Christians are in the world, but we are not of the world.   WE should never be OF THE WORLD.  People should be able to detect us as Christians; we should exude the sweet fragrance of Jesus and his light should shine forth from our lives.  People should know by our speech and activities, and especially by our love that we are children of God, people who bring the message of the grace and hope of the "Good News" to those who are caught in sin and darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

2 Corinthians 6:3-10  We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 

Several hearty breakfasts could be served from this passage.  Paul says he will not allow anything to discredit his ministry, his testimony, his ambassadorship.  He validates his credentials as a follower of Christ by enduring all kinds of troubles, by disciplining his attitude, by ministering unreciprocated love, by bearing the reproach of fellow Christians, and by coping with the world's hatred of him.  Paul desired his life to reflect God to a dying world, to be an exemplary Christian.  Is that our desire also?  Or do we get ambushed by our own feelings, our own desires, what is best for us?  Are we always looking out for ourselves first?  Do we desire God's will or do we DEMAND our own will?  How often we Christians complain about someone hurting us, or not treating us with respect, or having the audacity to criticize us.  I have watched Christians become very upset over such minor reproaches.  If those things destroy us, how would we endure being beaten up for our Christianity?  How would we like to be physically and emotionally humiliated before the whole world?  How would we like to be stripped of our clothing and stoned until the crowd thought we were dead?  Yet, we have people leave churches because of a comment someone made to them at church, or because the pastor just did not treat them well, or the congregation is too cliqueish, or the singing is too loud or too soft.  

Where is our resolve to endure all things for Christ?  Where is our intention not to be a stumbling stone to anyone?  Can we endure someone's bad report about us?  Paul says, AS SERVANTS OF GOD we approve ourselves, for we endure extreme difficulties in life: troubles, hardships and distresses; beatings, imprisonments and riots; hard work, sleepless nights and hunger for Christ's sake.  He also says regardless of the trials and circumstances of life, he dispensed purity, understanding, patience, kindness, sincere love, truthful speech, weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, all done under the authority and power of God.  Can we be such a servant or are we too hurt by someone's inappropriate comments or wrong look?  I think if we are to mature, we need to move on to more difficult positions in Christ such as dying, yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, yet possessing everything.

This morning a relative of mine died of cancer, after a long and courageous fight.  She left behind her wonderful husband and three children.  The knife of death separated them on this earth.  What now for them?  Paul is saying in the above passage, I will endure, I will bear, I will be all things for the sake of Christ.  As children of God, we must endure even physical death, separation.  But by faith we say, HE LIVES AND THEREFORE WE SHALL LIVE!  And that is where this lovely family stands today.  Children of God, let us not retreat into ourselves because someone has not treated us the way we want or with the respect that we desire or think we deserve.  Let us press on to maturity.  Let us live lives of faith, endure hardships and troubles with confidence for Christ's sake.  Let our testimony ring true while we are living.  This was true of this wonderful mother who passed away this morning.  Even through the struggle of cancer, her testimony was HE LIVES AND THEREFORE I LIVE.  Now, brothers and sisters in the Lord, live that life today--live it joyfully, exuberantly!  Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify God.