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Commending Ourselves as Servants of God
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Introduction: We begin by noting this phrase in the midst of our text: “as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way” (vs. 4). One of the critical misunderstandings of 2 Corinthians is the idea that Paul is making a defense of himself and his apostleship. In 12:19, Paul states, “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your building up.” In other words, Paul’s use of himself and his companions in describing their lifestyle in service to Christ was to show them the way; to build them up. If Paul were writing this letter to defend himself, in essence, showing what a great job he is doing as an apostle of Christ, he would be violating the very disgust he expresses concerning boasting in chapter 11.
Therefore, in our text, Paul has expressed the central message: as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way. How does a servant of God commend himself and yet not be boasting? It is evident that in this “commending,” Paul is describing a “servant of God.” Thus, our question is, what is this description of a servant of God? If you were asked to prove what a servant of God looks like, what would be your answer?
Paul’s Concluding Appeal (6:1-2)
Verse 1 summarizes our context and the bringing of Paul’s dissertation from chapter 2 to its climatic purpose: “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” In 5:20, we see similar words, the “appeal…be reconciled to God.”
Paul’s appeal to not receive the grace of God in vain may seem confusing since the Corinthians are already Christians. But the point is that it is possible to have initially come to Christ, but as time passes we do not accept the lifestyle that depicts a disciple of Christ. We can see Paul’s emphasis of this back in 5:14-15. This should be a concern to us! Are we truly reconciled to God?
Paul’s appeal is based on the fact that he and those with him are “working together with God.” But the question is, working together with God to do what? What are they and God doing together? The quote comes from Isaiah 49:8. God had appointed the Messiah to be his servant to glorify his name. However, the Messiah stated that it seemed that his redemptive work had been in vain. God replied that he would make the Messiah a light to bring salvation to the end of the earth and “in a favorable time and in a day of salvation I will help you.” Therefore, in this text, Paul tells the Corinthians that we are working together with God as God helps the Messiah bring salvation to the end of the earth. Therefore, do not receive God’s grace in vain!
In verse 2, Paul powers this point home by using the word “now” twice. The beautiful prophecy of 700 years previous where God appointed the Messiah to glorify his name and bring salvation to the end of the earth is now. That favorable time still remains. Whether you are a Christian or not, are you impressed that we are both recipients of God’s great purpose and that we are called to also “work together with God to appeal” to the world?
Paul’s Description of Servants of God (3-10)
When we read this description, our first thought should be that we are more like the Corinthians than we may have thought. This is not a description of servants of God that would have immediately crossed my mind. Of course, Paul isn’t saying that every Christian must find a way to suffer or to suffer in exactly the same way he has. Instead, it is the principle that Paul has already laid before them in the previous chapters:
- 2:14-16 Willing to die as captives in Christ’s victory parade and spreading the fragrance of Christ’s victory everywhere.
- 4:7 Clay jars willing to be broken so the treasure of the knowledge of Christ can be seen.
- 4:10-12 Carrying in the body the death of Jesus so the life of Jesus might be made visible. We die so others may live.
- 5:14-15 The love of Christ controls us so that since one died for all, we all have died so that we no longer live for ourselves but for him.
The clear message of Paul is that God’s primary concern is his glorification through the salvation of the world. That is also Paul’s primary concern. It is the primary concern of those who labor with Paul, and it is to be the primary concern of every servant of Christ. That was Jesus’ message in the parable of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost sons. Therefore, this description is Paul saying that whatever it takes we are in God’s service to bring the light of salvation to the end of the earth.
“We put no obstacle in anyone’s way…” Why does Paul repeatedly show the necessity of “endurance, hardships, afflictions, calamities, etc.? Because there is no greater purpose or priority than the ministry of Christ to reconcile the world to Christ. Therefore, we want to do everything possible to clear the path of every obstacle so there is no fault found in the ministry of Christ. This, indeed, is one of our greatest challenges and weaknesses. Too often, we have a “this is my life” attitude; “this is my church” attitude.
Paul heads this list with the words, “Great endurance.” Nearly everything we could talk about in the Christian life would begin with endurance. Think of all the kings who did not end well: Asa, Joash, Hezekiah. Do you know how we get endurance? Paul said, “Tribulations produce endurance” (Rom. 5:3).
How many times have you gone through bad hardships and prayed to God that he would take it away? Now, how many times did he take it away? The answer is probably, ZERO. God helps us through it, he rarely takes it away. There is a reason for that. We need endurance if we are going to make it to the end.
When I was young, Dad made me do the most awful jobs in the yard, things I hated to do. If I did a poor job cleaning in the house, Mom made me do it again until it was right. When things were hard at school, well, that’s life; keep working at it. And If I got in trouble, there was no deliverance, no protection, and no, “I’ll let you off the hook.” No, the word was, “Maybe you will learn not to do that again.”
What do our children need? They need self-control (the ability to say “no” to themselves, and endurance. Much of the younger generation that has grown up without God, without discipline, without having to endure hardships and suffer consequences. What comes from that kind of raising? People who complain, murmur about anything difficult and want everything given to them. Worse, people will not make it to heaven because that is not the nature of a servant of Christ. We carry a cross! We do it so God is glorified.
Let me notice with you briefly that this list actually is placed in groups.
- In verses 4-5, Paul has three groups of hardships, each with three words that describe what he endures.
- First group: a general group of difficulties (afflictions, hardships, calamities) that happens from time to time as Paul does his work.
- Second group: refers to hardships of how others have afflicted him – beatings, imprisonments, riots.
- Third group: afflictions Paul has imposed on himself in order to fulfill the work of Christ – labors, sleepless nights, hunger.
If you think this first section of suffering and sacrifice is impressive, the second group is more so. Verses 6-7a speak of Paul’s character during these afflictions. The most difficult time to have a moral purity and devotion, giving knowledge with patience, and kindness, is during great trials, attacks, and afflictions. We begin to believe that our sinful responses are justified because what is happening is just not fair. But the more wicked our world becomes the more acting in this way will cause God’s glory to shine.
6b–7a You will notice in the second group, by the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God, that Paul endures because his confidence is completely in God’s power through the Holy Spirit, love, and truth. This is God’s work, not his. Through all afflictions, we , must remember that. It is not our life, it is God’s life to use.
Verses 7b–10: Great final description of a servant of Christ!
- Weapons of righteousness
- Through honor and dishonor
- Through slander and praise
- Treated as imposters, and yet true
- As unknown and yet well-known
- As dying, and behold, we live
- As punished and yet not killed
- As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
- As poor, yet making many rich
- As having nothing, yet possessing everything
Remember, it isn’t as if all of this will happen to every Christian. But is this your mentality? Is this how you see yourself as a servant of God?
Berry Kercheville