Paul’s Calling and Love for the Church

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

 

2 Corinthians 12:14-15

Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

(NKJV)

 

Paul had a calling to take the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-47), something he did despite imprisonments and beatings (2 Corinthians 11:22-29). In this text Paul tells the Corinthians of his great love for the Church even though the Corinthians did not love him in the same manner (2 Corinthians 12:15). As ambassadors for Christ, we must have the attitude of Paul who preached the Gospel with an attitude of love for Christ and others and not for selfish gain or notoriety.

 

Paul begins this text by stating he felt compelled by the Corinthians to become a fool in boasting. Instead of compelling Paul to boast, the Corinthians should have commended Paul as an apostle on equal standing with the most eminent of apostles even though Paul considered himself as nothing (2 Corinthians 12:11). Paul should be considered an apostle due to his perseverance and the signs, wonders, and mighty deeds done by the Lord through him (2 Corinthians 12:12). Paul asks the Corinthians in what way they consider themselves inferior to other churches except for the fact Paul was not a burden to them, something for which he seeks forgiveness (2 Corinthians 12:13).

 

Paul is preparing to come to Corinth for the third time and will not be a burden to them for his purpose is not to seek something from them but to give to them as a parent gives to their child (2 Corinthians 12:14). Paul seeks to be spent for their sake out of love even though the more he loves the Corinthians, the less he is loved by them (2 Corinthians 12:15). Despite this lack of love for Paul, he does not seek to be a burden to them but in craftiness catch them by cunning (2 Corinthians 12:16). The cunningness is that Paul sent Titus to them but he also did not take advantage of them because he walked in the same spirit and the same steps as Paul (2 Corinthians 12:17-18).

Paul does not need to excuse himself to the Corinthians because he speaks before God in Christ, doing all things for the edification of the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12:19). Paul’s fear is that when coming to them he will discover contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, and tumults (2 Corinthians 12:20). If this is the case God will humble Paul before them and he shall mourn because they have not repented of their uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness (2 Corinthians 12:21).

 

 

Paul starts to wrap up his second letter to the Corinthians by defending his position as an apostle and expressing his love for the Church. Because Paul was not an eyewitness to Jesus during His ministry, many believed he should not hold the office of apostle. Paul defends his apostolic position by reminding them that the signs of an apostle accompanied him in his ministry and Christ’s revelation to him on the road to Damascus (2 Corinthians 12:12; Galatians 1:11-17). Not only does Paul hold the office of an apostle but he also has a deep love for the Church with him willing to spend himself to exhaustion for it (2 Corinthians 12:15).

 

One called to serve as a minister to a Church body must do so out of love for the Church and not for selfish gain or fame. The information age makes it possible for a pastor or evangelist to quickly achieve celebrity status. The upside of this is one can share the Gospel with thousands instantly making it possible for many to come to Christ. However, there is also the temptation to use this celebrity status to become a super pastor, similar to the super-apostles of Paul’s time (2 Corinthians 11:5).

 

Since we are all ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), we should regularly ask ourselves why we share Christ. Are we ambassadors who seek the approval of people, having them look up to us for our prominent position of ambassador or do we seek to bring attention to Christ and Heaven that we represent? A true ambassador for Christ represents heaven and should seek to draw attention to Jesus Christ who brought reconciliation with God the Father so we can spend eternity with Christ in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 3:16). Jesus reminds us that when we draw attention to Him and not ourselves, people are drawn to Him (John 12:32). I pray we become ambassadors bringing attention to Jesus and not ourselves.

 

If you are reading this post and have never prayed for the forgiveness of your sins or have drifted away from your relationship with Jesus, I invite you to pray with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.