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.