Integrity in God's sight

2 Corinthians 12:11-21

I am sure you have heard this saying, “No one cares how much you know till they know how much you care.”  You want to win the hearts of people, remember their names, and if you recall their children’s names you have hit a home run.  Can you imagine the challenge that is for your pastor, and yet many amaze me with their ability to remember so many faces and put names with them?  I believe the apostle Paul was such a minister and he had a deep concern for the Corinthian Church.

In verses 11-13, we get a small picture of him sharing his frustration with them about how easy they believed the false apostles who came in after he had left.  “I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!”    Unlike the false apostles Paul did not come asking for anything but that they follow the teaching of Christ, and that he did not want to be a burden to them, and maybe he should have allowed them to support the ministry but his remarks seemed to be sarcastic.  When he refers to super-apostles he is not talking about Peter or John but these false teachers who came in with a message of Jesus plus keeping the Law of Moses.  It is very clear that Jesus set aside men who had been with him to receive power from Him to do mighty wonders and miracles, Paul was the only exception we find in the Scriptures.  Look at Mark 6:7.  Paul, an apostle, called out of season 1 Corinthians 15:7-9, “Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

In verses 14-19, “Here for the third time, I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?”

The first visit he established the church at Corinth, but the second visit was a very short and painful experience, and his third visit was to pick-up support for those who were of the faith in Jerusalem.  Paul was never after what they had; his desire was to love them, and he was not expecting this love to return in the same way.

It is not clear what Paul is saying, (I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit.)  But it would seem that is what the false teachers were saying about Paul, that he had worked up a scheme to get their money.  But it is clear Paul never took money from them for his support.  It is also clear that Paul sent Titus to arrange for the collection for Jerusalem and he had full confidence in Titus and the way he handled money.  Paul’s integrity in God’s sight was more important than his reputation with anyone.  Integrity is a goal for each of us who are followers of Christ.  We can only wonder if many in the Corinthian Church had not given up the immorality of sexual sin, for verse 21 seems to be saying that many were not willing to leave that lifestyle.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice