January 16 - 2 Corinthians

January 16 - 2 Corinthians

The need for money and status. How many of us would agree that deep down, this is not only the root of most of our problems, but is something we either embrace or make attempts to reject daily. We couch it in terms such as 'caring for our family,' or 'just doing my job,' or any number of other excuses, but we all spend too much time trying to increase our status or make more money.

This is just what Paul was trying to face down in Corinth. The first letter that he wrote to them did not fix the problem and he knew that he was going to have to go one more time to deal with their rebellion. In 2 Corinthians 1:23, he tells them that the reason he hadn't gotten there yet was to spare them. I can only imagine his frustration and his fury with these people. He had spent a lot of time with this church and invested his heart and passion, yet they were not willing to relent.

2 Corinthians 1 and 7 focus on how their repentance brought comfort to Paul, yet 2 Corinthians 6:12 shows that they continued to have hard hearts. Paul emphasized over and over that in their weakness they would see God at work.

Outside leaders were still working on the church in Corinth. They had come in and made things much worse (2 Cor. 11:4). Paul calls them false apostles in 2 Cor. 11:13-15, 18, 23.

More than anything, Paul wanted to love these people. He warned those that continued to doubt his authority, but his return signified a desire to enter into a close relationship with the Corinthians.

In 2 Cor. 12:19-21, we see Paul preparing the Corinthians for his return. Everything in this letter was written to bring his readers to righteousness. The letter teaches two things: a believer should not cover his inadequacy with prideful boasting, nor should he become so depressed in his weakness that he cannot enjoy Christ's blessings. (Tyndale)

"...he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

In our weakness, Christ will make us strong. It was hard for the Corinthians to accept. It is nearly impossible for most of us to accept. We don't have to worry about Paul showing up in a few months and being 'harsh in his use of authority - the authority the Lord gave him for building us up, not for tearing us down.' (2 Cor. 13:10)

His letter remains as a warning to avoid that behavior. Will we read and obey?

2 Corinthians 1:1-24
2 Corinthians 2:1-17
2 Corinthians 3:1-18
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
2 Corinthians 5:1-21
2 Corinthians 6:1-18
2 Corinthians 7:1-16
2 Corinthians 8:1-24
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
2 Corinthians 10:1-18
2 Corinthians 11:1-33
2 Corinthians 12:1-21