2 Corinthians 6:3-10 – Serving steadfastly

In 2 Corinthians 6:3 Paul resumed talking about his ministry. Here his emphasis was about his approach to the ministry entrusted to him. He never shirked from doing what was needful to advance the message no matter how tough the circumstances were. Paul was not complaining because doing so would have put a hindrance to his work. His attitude was to give no avenue for anyone to take offence in anything that he was doing, so that his ministry would not be discredited.
 

Here Paul commended himself, denying that he had caused any offence to anyone. On the contrary, he had acted in a way that would easily commend him as a servant of God. A look at his life would reveal that he had shown exceptional endurance in the face of various sufferings. Whether it was in afflictions, hardships, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, tumult, labors, sleeplessness or hunger, he endured them all.
 

In verse 6 and the first part of verse 7, he further said that his ministry was accomplished in purity of motive. Not only that, he also shared and ministered with a deep appreciation of what God had called him to do and not in theoretical knowledge. And he did so with great patience, kindness, and in the Holy Spirit and genuine love. He also gave them the word of truth in the power of God. 
  

In the later part of verse 7 to verse 8a, He talked about his weapons. He referred to them as weapons of righteousness. Regardless of the conditions, he practiced righteousness. “Right hand and the left…” was a way of saying in good or bad condition. Besides, whether he was honored or dishonored, in good or ill repute, or being regarded as deceiver, he remained true. He remained undeterred by upholding truth and righteousness. 
 

From the last part of verse 8 to verse 10, Paul made contrasts between the perceptions people had of him and the divine realities of his life. Some viewed him as an impostor because he failed to honor his traveling schedule dealt with in 2 Corinthians 1:15-18. But yet before God, Paul lived with a good conscience, and maintained that his apostolic call and ministry were of divine origin and true. There were those who wouldn’t recognize his apostleship but God would, and many Corinthians also accepted his ministry. While not all would recognize his work, God did. Paul also contrasted death with life. From all outward appearances, the whole array of suffering intended to bring an end to his life, but instead the all surpassing power of God was at work in him, bringing the resurrected life of Christ. When Paul said “…punished yet not put to death…,” he was probably thinking of his earlier days when he persecuted Christians and consented to Stephen’s death. For that he ought to be punished but thanks to the mercy of God he was spared.  Paul had experienced sorrow and grief. For one, the Corinthians had given him many things to grief about, yet Paul remained joyful. Like Christ Who made Himself poor in order to make others rich, Paul also gave of himself in order to make others rich in the Lord. Unlike the peddlers of the Gospel who worked for personal financial gain, Paul offered himself free of charge to the ministry. Finally, he asserted that while he did not own anything on earth, having given up all to serve Christ, yet in God he had inherited all things.
 

Paul was focused and steadfast in serving God and His people. Although he had undergone much, yet he didn’t vacillate. What was the secret of his tenacity? He learned to look past the earthly dimension to the heavenly. Paul had the end in mind. Are we beginning with the end in mind? It will keep us from meandering. Forgetting what lies behind, let’s press towards the marks of the high calling of God!