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!

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22 Pray Without Ceasing

1Thssalonians 5:16-22  “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.  But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;  abstain from every form of evil.” (NASB)

A dear friend of mine is lying sick in the ICU at a local hospital and as word of her illness has spread many have offered their prayers.  I have asked many to pray and to “Pray without ceasing”.  It is this idea of praying continually that I’d like to explore today.

I have heard and perhaps you have too over the years that encouragement, “Pray without ceasing”.  I believe the idea is clear that we are to maintain that open dialogue with God throughout our day, every day.  Do we achieve it?  No, we don’t but it remains the ideal toward which we strive.  As I did the word search to find this phrase in Scripture I found that it occurs in the final chapter of 1 Thessalonians.  It is essentially a portion of Paul’s benediction or closing remarks in this letter.

In context, “Pray without ceasing” is but one of the closing encouragements in the letter.  I would suggest that it bears no greater weight than the others so in making this observation I believe we should take a look at what goes along with our continual state of prayer.  As we begin I’ll just tell you they are every bit as challenging as, “Pray without ceasing”.

First we are encouraged to, “Rejoice always”.  I recently wrote a BLOG called “Joyful Trials” in which this concept is explored.  You can find it in the index for further review.  None-the-less rejoicing always especially in light of seeing my friend in the hospital is a tall order.  How am I to do it?  The next phrase is, “Pray without ceasing” and following that comes the exhortation, “In everything give thanks”.  So I’m not only to find joy continuously as I maintain an open conversation with God but I am to give thanks to God continuously as well.

Paul indicates that obedience in these things will help me follow the next instruction.  He writes, “Do not quench the Spirit”.  The Spirit is often referred to as a fire or light so, “Quench the Spirit” would be to put out the flame or dim the light and we are not to do this.  The Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as The Encourager.  This is due to the role of the Holy Spirit in the believer which encourages us in all things to live honorable and yes, holy lives.  So this passage is saying not to put the Holy Spirit aside rather to yield to Him; “Hold fast to what is good”.  I would suggest here that only by yielding to the Holy Spirit can we find joy and give thanks in continual prayer especially in the midst of trials.  Especially as we see a loved one lying in a hospital bed so ill.

We are asked to “Examine everything carefully” that is to say, evaluate what is being taught in light of all Scripture to be sure that it is Truth.  This is a warning that not everything out there should be believed.  After all, Satan knows that the best lie is very near the truth.  I’ll spend more time on that topic another time.  For now, the Scripture is clear, evaluate everything with care.

Finally, “Hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil”.  Face it; sometimes we just do the opposite.  Paul reminds us that we are not to follow those ways of the world; we’re different so we need to act like it.

So, where does that leave us?  “Pray without ceasing” is a Biblical command that in context is a part of the greater picture of how a Christian should live.  We are to live in communion with the Lord helped along the way by the Holy Spirit who will also help us discern Truth from error; good from evil.  Yield to Him, pray to Him, give thanks to Him, live in Him, and glorify Him.  AMEN!