2 Corinthians 6:3-13 (Stumbling Block)

³ "We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we present ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
¹¹ We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. ¹² We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³ As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also."

 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  Why should we live a life of purity?  Paul is concerned here that he live an exemplary life because he does not want his ministry to be discredited.  I'm sure we can easily think of others we've seen who claim to love Jesus, but who gossip, speak negatively most of the time, cheat, lie, etc.  It's the most discrediting picture, and it pushes us far away from those people.  But has that ever been us?  We ought to live perseveringly, faithfully, and lovingly toward others so that they will see our ministry and be pointed to Christ!  Our lifestyle is a big deal!

Rather, as servants of God we present ourselves in every way...   And now Paul will list the ways that his life has been different from the false apostles by whom the Corinthians were so enamored at the time.  The false apostles were self-servers, but Paul is showing how he is a God-server.  That is ultimately how we can tell the difference between true servants of Christ and not.  Jesus Himself said the world would know we are Christians "by our love" and love comes from a place opposite of self-service.  

I challenge all of us to read this list slowly, and see if we can say the same thing -- are we God-servers or self-servers?  Would we stick it out during all of these things?  I'm biting my lip as this could get a bit uncomfortable...

in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Or here is the list from The Message, and again, I ask us to read it slowly...

in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

In our ministry to those around us, can we say we faithfully give no one reason to discredit our love for Jesus Christ?  Perhaps we have not received physical beatings for our faith, but could we continue even then?  The Lord is really challenging me on this the last few days.  I hear Him say, "Just how serious are you, Molly?"  And I so badly want to say that I would never deny Him!  That I would remain faithfu 'til the end no matter what.  That I would die for my faith in Him.  Easy to say, as I sit here comfortably with my coffee at my computer.  But this is what God is stirring in me this week.

So we end the passage with these words from The Message.  Hear the passion and urgency in Paul's tone:

Dear, dear Corinthians (or perhaps insert your name in there instead), I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

With all that craziness Paul listed, he still feels that his life is spacious, expansive, worthy of living, "terrifically alive" and worth all of the crazy!  He is such a picture of faithfulness, perseverance, and God's power, isn't he?

Oh, Lord, that I could be like Paul.  I give you my life.  Keep making me into the person you made me to be.  Help me to claim and know Your presence despite the chaos in the world around me, and may I be your faithful servant, putting no stumbling blocks in anyone's path to You.