2 Corinthians 6 reminds me of the starving years. That is how I describe the necessary struggle of young adulthood. Limited resources force hard choices; testing our faith that the sacrifice will pay off later. The long-term result is a greater appreciation for every small taste of success that follows. Today’s lesson is about endurance. Paul begins, “We urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain”. I believe his point is that God’s forgiveness is an unimaginable gift to everyone that has been humbled by the consequences of sin. The sting of failure is not permanent. It can become a turning point. Romans 5:20 says, “where sin abounds, grace abounds much more”. It may require emptiness before we recognize “now is the day of salvation”. Paul was full of himself before accepting God’s unconditional forgiveness, but he went on to feed the known world. Perhaps thinking of his own experience, Paul adds, “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited”. Nowhere does Paul attempt to remove the necessity of pain. It is the struggle that produces unrestrained generosity of spirit. The greatest gift we can give to the hurting is hope. Hope produces endurance.
Some of our scars have faded, making us appear saintly today. But much like Paul, discovering God’s peace does not come without trials. Maybe you are in the midst of difficulty right now and are asking “why me?” Paul lists his qualifications for being a minister of mercy: “endurance… troubles, hardships and distresses… beatings, imprisonments and riots… hard work, sleepless nights and hunger”. I believe his hardships prepared him for service to God to feed hungry souls. His trials produced; “purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love”. No one wants to be kicked when they are down, yet that may be exactly what we need. Paul ministered “in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness”. Friend, God has plans for you too!
The chapter closes with an enticing morsel for the well fed. You might think you are beyond the struggle, but friend, you are not there yet. Paul presents the “bad report and good report” to reset our definition of success; “yet regarded as impostors… yet regarded as unknown… yet we live on… yet not killed… yet always rejoicing… yet making many rich… having nothing, and yet possessing everything”. People will project onto us what they want to see. Paul tells the young church, “We are not withholding our affection from you”. Rather, with great tenderness, he adds, “I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts”. Paul adds a warning to the short-cutters, too anxious to wait for the harvest. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers”. Partnering without a unified purpose can be painful. The naïve latch onto a burdensome beast unwilling to submit to authority. Paul asks, “what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” The honest answer is temptation. But Paul adds a reason to sacrifice now for the payoff later, “For we are the temple of the living God”. My friend, are you unsatisfied? Abundant life awaits, but for now we endure in faith.