2 Corinthians 11:8-15 Pure Motives

2 Corinthians 11:8-15 “I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.  As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.  Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!  But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds”. (NASB)

As a leader, credibility is of paramount importance.  If one loses credibility, who will follow?  This is the underlying issue for Paul as he writes to the Corinthians in this his second letter we have in Scripture.  Paul knows that the message that he has for these people cannot be compromised by their questions about him personally.  At this stage in his relationship with the church at Corinth it is especially important and he goes to the trouble of telling us why.

He starts in a rather peculiar way saying, “I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you”.  So is Paul saying he was the early incarnation of Robin Hood?  No, he is using the dramatic “Robbed” to make the point that he was being supported by “Other churches” in order that he might “Support You”, the church at Corinth.  Paul in this sense was a missionary sent by these supporting churches to minister to the new church at Corinth.  Paul goes on to remind them that while he was there with them, “I was not a burden to anyone”.  In fact, when other believers from the Macedonia area came they, “Fully supplied my need” according to Paul.  The result was that, “Everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so”.

Why was this important?

Paul wanted to make it clear to those in Corinth when he was there ministering to them that he was not there for any reason other than that.  He had no personal gain or even the meeting of his immediate needs in mind while he was there.  The importance of this position for Paul was twofold.  First, by not taking any support much less profit from the church in Corinth Paul did establish his own credibility as one there to serve them.  No strings attached.  Second, Paul knew that others with less pure motives were in circulation and may well cross his path.  Paul wanted to be able to make the clear distinction between his motivation and theirs.

Paul is able to ask the rhetorical question about his motives, “Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!”  And Paul goes on to say that his activity will continue driving to that second purpose of drawing the distinction between his motives and others.  He says, “What I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting”.  Then he cuts to the chase, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ”.

Wow!

And he’s not done.  Paul goes on to identify their motivation or motivator, “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light”.  Satan is behind the actions of these false prophets who present a counterfeit gospel.  So Paul says as Satan goes so go his followers, “Therefore it is not surprising if his (Satan’s) servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness”.  Before moving on we do need to see the victory statement Paul makes in completing this section.  He reminds us that their, “End will be according to their deeds”.

But what is the point of all of this for us?  Well, as leaders in the church we need to emulate Paul as best we can especially when developing new disciples.  Our motives must be pure and they must be transparently so to those with whom we seek to have credibility.  In Paul’s case his discussion centers on financial support or the meeting of his physical needs.  He took the measure of taking that out of the equation to gain credibility with the Corinthians.  For us, there may be other steps of integrity we need to take to transparently reveal our true motivation.

The second message here is for those attempting to discern the motivations of their would be leaders.  Whether this is at the time a church is being sought or when a decision to support a ministry is being made.  What is the motivation of those who are ministering or intending to lead?  One of the requirements of eldership is to be, “Not fond of sordid gain” (Titus 1:7).  If a leader is in it to line his own pockets – WATCH OUT!

So Paul helps us to understand how to be leaders with integrity and as disciples of Christ one way to discern true motives.  Whichever position you are in leader or disciple remember both his model and his warning.  AMEN!