The Choice to Betray
2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-11
(August 26)
I have had a lot of experience with recovery homes. My former church was affiliated with a home for men, and I have worked alongside homes for women, trying to help these women overcome their strongholds. In fact, I am currently working alongside some women who are trying to get their lives back together after addiction and/or incarceration.
It is such a blessing to watch these women find Jesus and find their way through the issues that have haunted them. It is warming to the heart to see your efforts pay off and watch them walk further and further into a life of success with Christ.
But ... not everyone succeeds. There are always going to be the "failure stories" that walk alongside the "success stories." I have learned through crushed hope and countless heartbreaks, that not everyone will choose to change. And when you invest your time and heart, and no change happens, it is crushing to the spirit.
As Paul begins this 2nd letter to the Corinthians, which he wrote less than a year after 1 Corinthians, he is feeling crushed, dejected, and betrayed. These feelings aren't directed towards the entire church, but to a portion that had continued to go against everything he preached.
Keep in mind, at this time the Romans had made Corinth the capital city of Achaia. It was a flourishing trade center with thousands of merchants and sailors coming in and out. Its reputation grew as an immoral city, where pagan temples encouraged the worship of idols and the practice of sexual immorality. The Greek word "to Corinthianize" actually meant "to practice sexual immorality." That is how bad it had gotten, and that was the situation this church found itself in, with all the pressures and conflicts to go along with it.
Paul had written 1 Corinthians to deal with some divisions that were taking place in the church. Some did not heed his advice and the problems continued. So, he made a trip to see for himself what needed to be done.
This was a painful trip for Paul, as he feels rejected by those he has invested so much into. It is an emotional letter filled with every human emotion imaginable. But like any other good "movie" ... we can look towards a happier ending.
This is the most personal and intimate letter Paul ever wrote. He was seeking to vindicate himself and expose the false prophets who were disrupting the church. Throughout this letter you will see the theme of obedience to Christ through respect and submission to authority. Another, underlying theme will be selfless giving, both in Christian service and sharing personal possessions.
When Paul talks about "burdens", "afflictions", or "troubles", (which he does multiple times), he is describing the problems he experienced because of his devotion to the gospel. Many believers experienced these same troubles.
But they also benefitted from those troubles...
"But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead." (Verse 9).
"We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us." (Verse 10)
How beneficial those trials were because they caused them to draw closer to God, and to look to him for help, instead of themselves or others.
Paul wants them to see this as answered prayer, and as God revealing himself as our rescuer.
There are choices to be made. First, you have to choose to walk in the light or walk in the darkness. Then you must choose how you look at your troubles. Do you see them as burdens with no hope? Or do you see them as opportunities to let God work in your life in a way you never thought possible?
Do you choose to follow or to betray?