TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. - Hebrews 12:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
There's more to the story we told on Friday about a NASA spacecraft (see the October 8 study). Although the craft's cameras did not get closeup pictures of an asteroid, the mission was not a total failure. Another instrument analyzed charged particles called ions near the asteroid and sent back data, giving scientists hope they would be able to tell more about the asteroid's makeup. Deep Space 1 was also testing an engine that provides power by sending out a high-speed stream of ions rather than burning fuel. Deep Space 1 may even fly by two comets in 2001 if money is available for an extended mission.

All of us have times when we feel as if our service for Christ has failed to accomplish its mission. At the time he wrote 2 Corinthians, Paul was under a load of strain that made him despair even of his life. It wasn't as if Paul was failing in his mission. He was experiencing the sufferings and setbacks that are part of serving Christ in a fallen, sinful world.

Things may appear to be one way--but when God is part of the equation, there is always more to the story. Paul was in distress, but he didn't allow his emotions to cloud his clear view of the triumphant God he served and to whom he belonged.

That's why the apostle could stop in the middle of this letter and then write at length about the victorious nature of the ministry. Death was ""at work"" in him (v. 12), but then he followed that with a strong statement about God's power (v. 13).

Paul's quotation from Psalm 116:10 affirms the fact that God can deliver His people even when ""the cords of death"" are wrapped around them (Ps. 116:3). You can see why Paul turned to this psalm for comfort. It fit his circumstances perfectly.

What was the hope that kept Paul going, that renewed his spirit day by day and kept him from losing heart? The same hope we have today--the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, we can be sure God will also raise us up to be with Him forever.

How's that for the rest of the story? When we stack our worst earthly problems next to the joys and glories of eternity with Christ, our problems can't help but appear ""light and momentary"" (v. 17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way to avoid losing heart and becoming discouraged over your problems is to keep them in proper perspective.

Paul told us to ""fix our eyes"" on eternal things (v. 18). The writer of Hebrews was even more specific in today's verse. When we keep our eyes--that is, our faith and hope--set on Jesus, everything else comes into proper focus. Today, on His day, spend time in the Lord's presence getting Him firmly anchored in the center of your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:1-9
We live by faith, not by sight. - 2 Corinthians 5:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Newspapers reported an interesting detail of the recent wedding of Britain's Prince Edward to Sophie Rhys-Jones. After reviewing the official wedding photo of the royal family, Edward decided that his nephew, Prince William--son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana--was looking a little too grim for the happy occasion. So Edward ordered William's unsmiling image to be replaced with another photo in which the young prince is smiling. Apparently, when you're royalty you get to set your own rules. Whatever we may think of that on the human level, this amusing incident is actually a pretty good illustration of what happens when we know Christ. He replaces what appears to be the grim reality of life with the joy of His eternal presence.

Now don't misunderstand. We're not talking about just forcing a smile for the camera when you don't feel like smiling, or faking joy you don't really feel. The point is that when we see life from God's eternal perspective, it changes everything. Paul calls this living by faith.

Today's verses in 2 Cor. 5 can be understood in the context of what the apostle wrote in chapter 4. He's contrasting the temporary and often troubled nature of life on this earth with the eternal and glorious nature of our resurrected lives in heaven with Christ.

To illustrate this contrast, the apostle used an everyday word picture that his readers would have identified with immediately. He compared our frail and dying human bodies to the tents that were a common sight in those days.

A tent is, by design, a temporary shelter. It's made to be folded up and taken away once the occupant has a permanent place to live. And unless you're just the outdoor type, chances are, if you had to live in a tent for any length of time, you'd soon be ""groaning"" in anticipation of moving into a permanent home.

Paul was groaning in his tent, his body. We've already read of the distress he was feeling. But he had a joy-filled hope--a resurrected body that would equip him for heaven--that kept him going, determined to please the Lord wherever he was.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Anyone who thinks that living by faith simply means floating above the details of daily life needs to read today's Scripture. Paul's deep longing for his resurrected body didn't cause him to float through life waiting for heaven. His hope in Christ was his motivation to serve God with everything he had. Is that the case with you? Take a glance at your schedule for this week and ask yourself how much it reflects your commitment to Christ. Are some adjustments needed?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:10-13
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 5:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Nobel- and Pulitzer-Prize winning author William Faulkner died in 1962, but another piece of his work has just been released. A short story Faulkner wrote in 1948 was rediscovered this summer and published in the Virginia Quarterly Review. The piece, appropriately titled ""Lucas Beauchamp: An Unpublished Story,"" was rejected for publication by two national magazines when Faulkner sent it to them. A Faulkner scholar at St. Peter's College in New Jersey found the article in his files a few months ago and submitted it for publication.

Even though William Faulkner has been off the scene for almost four decades, the discovery and publication of this story brought his life's work under further review and evaluation. In a small way, this reminds us of the review and evaluation our lives as Christians will undergo when we stand before our Savior Jesus Christ. This judgment is not for our eternal destiny, but for our eternal rewards.

To understand verse 10 we need to study the previous verse and remember that Paul was talking about the important business of pleasing Christ in everything he did. It isn't until our work passes by Christ's judgment that we will know its lasting value (for more on this, see 1 Cor. 3:10-15).

To Paul, the thought of accounting for his life before Jesus was an incredible motivation for service. He was pouring out his life in sincere, selfless ministry to reach the lost for Christ and build the church. His work was ""plain"" to God and to everyone else. As we saw earlier, unlike the false apostles in the Corinthian church, Paul had nothing to hide.

Unfortunately, not everyone saw Paul's life in this light. Part of his anguish about the situation in Corinth was that, although he was the Corinthians' spiritual father and an apostle of Christ, Paul was being forced to defend his ministry and his sincerity against the accusations of underhanded people.

In the end, Paul was willing to leave his vindication with the Lord. But it had to hurt knowing that, as near as we can tell from verse 13, he was being accused of being insane. If so, Paul was in good company. Jesus Himself was once thought to be beside Himself (Mark 3:2) for setting out on His ministry.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Knowing that our lives will be reviewed by Jesus Himself ought to be enough to bring us to our knees.

It should also make us determined to live in a way that will bring Jesus' commendation, ""Well done, my good servant!"" (Luke 19:17). It's hard even to imagine the thrill of hearing that word from the Savior. Today's lesson makes this a good day to renew our commitment to follow Christ. Ask God to help you seek His kingdom and righteousness above everything else.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all. - 2 Corinthians 5:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a curious incident just after the end of World War I, an American officer and several of his soldiers in Europe came under crossfire from two rival guerrilla groups. The U.S. officer met with both commanders, who were willing to surrender but did not want to surrender to each other. So the officer suggested they could both surrender to the United States--which they did, handing over their swords to the peacemaker.

Without pressing the story too far, the actions of that World War I army officer remind us of the initiative God took to reconcile us to Himself. We're getting near the end of this section in our study--Paul's reflection on the glorious ministry he had in serving Christ (refer to the October 1 outline). Here he writes about another glorious aspect of the gospel, the truth of reconciliation.

Reconciliation is the work of God by which He makes His enemies--sinners like us--His friends by removing the reason for the hostility. It's all about making peace instead of a state of war.

It's important to understand what Paul is teaching here, because a lot of people will tell you they don't really believe they have done anything to offend God. But the Bible is unmistakable. The ""whole world"" is under Satan's control (1 John 5:19); sinful people are under God judgment. God is the offended party, and sinners are the ones who need to be reconciled to Him.

What's worse, sinners like us can do nothing to please God. But God took care of the problem Himself. Motivated by nothing but His great love and grace, God sent His Son into the world to be our Reconciler.

The cost was infinitely high, though. God placed our sins on Jesus, who paid for them with His blood on the cross. Once sin, the cause of our broken relationship with God, has been dealt with, God is free to forgive us and make us His children.

This wonderful news so stirred Paul that he couldn't do anything else but go everywhere telling everyone he could that peace with God was now possible. Like the proud, battling warlords in our opening story, all sinners need to do is hand over their swords and surrender to Jesus Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's in the middle of this great passage that we find one of the most encouraging verses in the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

We'd like to suggest two ways you can make use of the incredible good news found in this verse: 1. Commit it to memory. It may help to write the verse on a card you can carry with you or put in a visible place until you know the verse well. 2. With this great truth ringing in your mind and heart, look for someone this week who needs to hear it!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. - 2 Corinthians 6:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Over the past several years, the world has witnessed an amazing series of hearings in South Africa conducted by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Commission has heard testimony from hundreds of people in an attempt to seek justice for old wrongs, and healing for the nation's wounds. Although it is probably too early to judge the full effectiveness of this process, it was begun in recognition of the fact that the time for reconciliation in this troubled nation is at hand.

This is essentially the same message Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. His relationship with these believers had been disrupted. False teachers presenting themselves as authoritative apostles were making accusations against Paul trying to discredit him.

Dealing with these phonies was one thing, but Paul's main concern was the attitude of the Corinthians themselves. As we know by now in studying 2 Corinthians, the apostle was forced to defend himself to people who should have embraced him. Paul defended his ministry with personal humility and yet bold confidence in the God he served. He was not content just to prove his sincerity, he wanted a full reconciliation with his readers.

Since God had provided that reconciliation in Christ, Paul said, the time was here for the Corinthians to live in the light of this truth. That's the message of verses 1-2. To fail to receive and practice God's reconciliation was to receive His grace ""in vain.""

For his part, Paul could say there was nothing blocking the path to peace with the Corinthian church. He had done nothing to discredit either himself or his work. Once again the apostle was answering those critics who were demeaning him.

This thought led Paul to the issue of his credibility. He didn't need letters of recommendation from others (3:1), because his service for Christ had been validated in every way, under all kinds of suffering, hardship, and mistreatment.

No matter what his opponents might say, Paul knew the truth. And because he knew the Corinthians also knew the truth deep in their hearts, he wanted them to take him into their hearts again.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since God has taken the initiative to heal the break caused by our sin, we have all the motivation we need to seek restoration in our relationships with others.

For us too, the time for healing is now. If there is an important relationship in your life that isn't right, today is a good time to begin praying for and seeking restoration. All you can do is your part (Rom. 12:18), but God may use your willingness to start the healing process.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1
Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit. - 2 Corinthians 7:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you have ever written a difficult letter to a friend or family member in an attempt to restore the relationship, and then waited anxiously to see how your letter would be received, you know something of how Paul felt in relation to the Corinthian believers. They were his spiritual children whom he loved.

It's especially hard to send a letter like this when you have bared your heart and soul to the recipient, taking the risk of being misunderstood or rejected. Paul had opened his heart to the Corinthians, and he urged them to do the same toward him.

The appeals Paul made to his readers form another section of 2 Corinthians, they include some verses you are probably familiar with. The apostle called on believers to guard against entangling relationships with unbelievers that would draw them away from their devotion to Christ.

It could be that Paul was thinking of the false apostles in Corinth who were trying to put a yoke on the church and lead its people away from Paul and from Christ. If so, Paul was certainly addressing a problem that would make it hard for the Corinthians to open their hearts and receive him as he hoped.

Paul used a familiar object to explain his point. Yokes joining two animals together were a common sight in the ancient world. The point is well made. Believers who are joined in this way to non-Christians are going to be tied up in unions that may take them where they don't want to go. We do have a yoke to wear, by the way, but it's the yoke of Christ (Matt. 11:29-30).

To reinforce the message, Paul asked a series of rhetorical questions which he knew the Corinthians could answer for themselves. We need to read these closely too, because the ungodliness and idolatry around us are not always as obvious as they were in Corinth, where idol temples dotted the skyline.

Then the apostle referred to the Old Testament to bring forward the teaching about God's temple. In those days, God's presence resided in the temple at Jerusalem. But in this age of the church, we are ""the temple of the living God"" (v. 16). As such, we need to keep our bodies and spirits--our entire being--pure and holy before Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We are called to separate ourselves from evil, and yet be salt and light to a lost world. How do we maintain this balance?

Verse 14 is a tremendous help. You can be a friend and a witness to unsaved people without becoming entangled in intimate relationships with them or joining in their sinful activities. It's not a matter of being aloof, or projecting a ""holier than thou"" spirit. But being yoked with Christ does require that we make wise choices. Ask God for daily wisdom in this area.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 7:2-4
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Corinthians 1:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
The great preacher and theologian Jonathan Edwards once wrote, ""Comfort yourself that you have an unchangeable, constant friend in Christ Jesus. How excellent Jesus' friendship is. You may learn from His manner of treating His disciples on earth. He treated them as a tender father treats his children; meekly instructing them, most friendly in conversing with them, and being ready to pity them, to help them, and to forgive their infirmities.""

This description of the way Christ loves us also reflects the deep affection His apostle and servant, Paul, had for his spiritual children in the great city of Corinth. He was a tender, loving father to them. When he rebuked them he did so meekly, not in bitterness or anger. And this letter reveals again that he was more than ready to forgive them and take them into his heart.

Today's lesson concludes an important section of 2 Corinthians, a long digression in which Paul gave his readers a look into his heart as a minister of Christ. This change in thought was brought about by Paul's mention of Macedonia in 2 Cor. 2:13. Put that verse next to 2 Cor. 7:5 and you'll see that they fit together as if nothing came between them.

But before resuming his story of meeting Titus, Paul appealed once more to these people who were dear to him even though they had caused him grief.

That appeal was for the Corinthians to restore their love and affection for Paul. He had two very good reasons for making this request. First, he had done nothing to hurt or offend them in any way. There may be a hint in Paul's word choice that the false teachers in Corinth were corrupting and exploiting them. But in any case, Paul was innocent of these wrongs.

A second reason Paul could appeal for their love was his attitude toward them and his confidence they would make the right choice. As we said, he rebuked them as a loving father.

Paul's reprimand wasn't meant as a putdown, but as an encouragement to fix the problem. It came from a heart filled with deep affection for these believers. Despite the rupture in their relationship, the Corinthians were a source of joy to Paul.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since we are imperfect children, we can take comfort in the fact that God is a loving, forgiving Father.

We have been reminded this month that our response to that love should be to please God in every way we can, putting sin as far away from us as possible. With that in mind, we suggest you spend time today asking the Lord to show you any area of sin that needs attention. Be ready to confess and repent of sin as you claim God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 7:5-16
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. - 2 Corinthians 7:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
When time came to pull one of his pitchers from a game, the late major league baseball manager Leo Durocher would always send one of his coaches to the mound. Durocher figured that even if a pitcher was upset about being taken out he couldn't argue with the coach, who was only delivering someone else's message. That way, Durocher got the result he wanted without much personal conflict.

Paul often delivered his message through a subordinate, as in the case of Titus carrying the ""severe"" letter to Corinth (2 Cor. 2:4). But the apostle's motive was not simply to avoid an argument. His goal was to bring the believers to repentance over their careless attitude toward sin and unloving response to him.

Although Titus failed to meet Paul in Troas and thus caused the apostle some intense worry, the two finally met in Macedonia. There Titus brought Paul the good news that his letter to the Corinthians had produced the result Paul was praying for. They were eager to demonstrate their repentance and love for Paul.

Today's text closes this intensely personal section of 2 Corinthians. We can be grateful that Paul wrote this message, because these verses give us one of Scripture's clearest teachings on the nature of true repentance. Here Paul draws a line between just ""feeling sorry"" and taking action to correct the wrong.

It's true that feeling sorry about one's sin is one of the steps that leads to repentance. But this is where most people usually stop. In the past year or so we've seen plenty of examples of people who expressed regret over their actions once those actions became public knowledge. Whether that regret led to a genuine change of heart remains to be seen.

Paul had caused the Corinthians pain--but it was the good kind of pain that leads a person to search for and deal with the source of sin. Since the Corinthians had done that, they could rejoice in God's forgiveness, as well as Paul's, without any lingering sense of guilt. Paul was so confident they would do this he had bragged beforehand about them to Titus.

Having dealt with all of these problems, Paul was ready to move on to some other important issues.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When someone frustrates you, it's hard to focus on that person's potential for good.

Chances are there is someone in your life who always seems to irritate you. The temptation with people like this is to avoid them if possible. Try another option today. Ask God to help you look past the problem and see the person on a deeper level. Who knows? You may even discover some things you can do to make your relationship better.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:1-6
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income. - 1 Corinthians 16:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
During the 1864 presidential election, Abraham Lincoln was accused of demanding his salary in gold while soldiers were paid in greenbacks. But U.S. treasurer F.E. Spinner said that Lincoln often went months without drawing his salary. Several times, Spinner said, he urged Lincoln to take his pay, pointing out that he had lost about $4ꯠ in interest. But when Lincoln learned the Treasury benefited from his loss, he said, ""Then as it goes for the good of my country, let it remain.""

That's a remarkable attitude to have toward money. There aren't many people who would willingly take a financial loss so that others could benefit. But according to Paul, the believers in the Macedonian churches were like this, and he hoped their example would stir the Corinthians into action.

Based on the information we have about 2 Corinthians, we know that the little phrase ""And now"" at the beginning of this chapter signals that Paul is moving to a new topic. He finished defending his plans and describing his ministry. It was time to take up an urgent topic with his readers.

That topic was the famine wracking Jerusalem, which was causing extreme hardship for the believers there. Paul had been organizing a collection for the Jerusalem church for a long time, and he was eager to finish it. The contribution from Corinth was one of the details that still needed his attention.

But Paul didn't just ""pass the plate."" He used the occasion to teach some important principles of biblical giving. The principles he taught in chapters 8 and 9 are so powerful because that was a real-life lesson.

The crisis in Jerusalem called for a gracious response from God's people. The churches in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, Acts 16--17) had responded with overflowing generosity, in spite of their own poverty. The people there even volunteered their offering without being asked. Paul wanted to challenge the church in Corinth to respond with the same generosity. His trusted co-worker Titus, whom the Corinthians knew well, would oversee the final collection.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's lesson gives us two solid principles for the kind of giving that pleases the Lord.

First, our giving should be gracious (v. 1). We know that ""God loves a cheerful giver"" (2 Cor. 9:7). Second, God wants our commitment more than our cash (v. 5). Once He has our hearts, we'll have better things to do than worry about our wallets.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15
See that you also excel in this grace of giving. - 2 Corinthians 8:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Every week we are invited to give to some worthwhile organization or cause. It might be for some relief effort, a community

library, or even the needs of our local churches. But let’s admit it--we don’t always respond with the best of motives. We

give grudgingly. We give simply to get people off of our backs. Or we give without much thought to where the money is

going.

What should our motives be? How can we give in a way that God Himself is pleased with our efforts? Paul’s words to the

Corinthian believers can help us answer these questions.

Paul sent Titus and two other trusted co-workers (2 Cor. 8:18-22) to Corinth to receive the church's collection for the needy

saints in Jerusalem. The apostle was hoping for a generous return on his efforts, and felt free to encourage the Corinthians

to be generous in their giving.

Paul could make this request because the money was not for himself. In tomorrow’s devotional we'll see that he was very

careful in the way the gift was handled so no one would have cause to criticize him. Paul was very careful about this

because that's what the ministry of Christ demanded, and also because the false teachers in Corinth were taking money from

the church for their support.

Today's verses give us three more principles of biblical giving we need to put into practice. First, our giving should be

done graciously. Giving is a ministry of grace (v. 7). That's the way it was meant to be, since as Christians our whole lives

are to be governed by grace. Paul did not command the Corinthians to give. You can't command generosity.

A second trait of biblical giving is the love that should motivate it. Giving is a good test of love because it demands

something of us. The ultimate example of loving, gracious giving is Jesus Christ, who traded the riches of heaven for the

poverty of a servant's life (v. 9). And He did this so that spiritually bankrupt people like us could share in heaven's riches

with Him.

Here's a third principle of giving. It needs to be done willingly (v. 11). The Macedonian churches had begged Paul for the

privilege of giving. It was their idea. The Corinthians didn't need to feel as if they had to do it all themselves. They were

simply encouraged to give according to their ability because, with God, the attitude of the heart is more valuable than the

size of the gift.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's easy to see why 2 Corinthians 8-9 contain some of the Bible's most important teaching on giving.

Today's verse is a real challenge to give close attention to our ministry of giving. It's an area where God wants us to excel,

not because He needs our money to keep His work going. We need to excel in giving because we need the joy, blessing,

and spiritual discipline that come from faithful stewardship. How does your giving compare to the principles we have

studied?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24
We are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. - 2 Corinthians 8:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
Episodes of the popular 60s television series Mission Impossible usually began the same way. After getting his assignment, the spy team leader played by actor Peter Graves would go through his files of trusted associates and pull out the photos of the ones whose qualifications were ideal for that particular mission.

With a little imagination we can see Paul doing the same thing as he organized the collection for the famine-stricken church in Jerusalem. Although he may have personally supervised the offering from the Macedonian churches, the church at Corinth was a different story.

The apostle wanted the collection to be made before he arrived, so that no one, especially those in Corinth attacking his ministry, could accuse him of mishandling the money. So Paul chose several trusted co-workers to oversee the work of collecting the Corinthians' gift, and then later to accompany Paul to Jerusalem with the money.

Paul didn't have to debate with himself very long before choosing Titus to lead this delegation. Titus was not only a servant with Christlike character and integrity, but he was also well-known and loved by the Corinthians. One Bible commentator even calls Titus Paul's ""minister for Corinthian affairs.""

As Paul went through his files of associates, another ""photo"" that came up was the brother described, but not named, in verses 18-19. Whoever he was, he came to Corinth with strong credentials from the other churches.

One guess is that this anonymous delegate was Luke, who was with Paul on the missionary journey during which the Macedonian churches were founded. The third man chosen (v. 22) is impossible to identify, but we can trust Paul's judgment on this one.

There was a lot at stake in this offering besides the welfare of the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. Paul had put a lot of confidence in the Corinthians and their eagerness to participate in this crucial collection.

He wanted these believers to come through on their good intentions, so their testimony for Christ would be proven genuine and Paul's confidence in them would be shown to be well-placed.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Handling God's resources with absolute integrity has always been the standard for those involved in His work.

This has been Moody Bible Institute's unwavering commitment since 1886. Our charter membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) is a result of our commitment to do what is right, ""not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men."" Please pray with us today that God will continue to guard Moody's unbroken heritage of financial integrity--for His glory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:1-5
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it. - 2 Corinthians 8:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his 1970's bestseller, The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson tells of his efforts to reach New York City's toughest gangs for Christ. One amusing story tells how Nicki Cruz, the toughest gang member of all and later Wilkerson's most famous convert, helped Wilkerson take up an offering at an evangelistic rally for the gangs. As Cruz helped pass the cardboard buckets among the crowd, he would glare menacingly at anyone whose offering he thought was too small. Many gang members dug a little deeper that day rather than having to deal with Nicki Cruz.

That's one way to get a generous offering, but it would have to come under the heading of ""one grudgingly given"" (v. 5)! There were to be no glares or threats, or any other kind of coercion, put upon the Corinthian church as the people prepared to take up a collection for the suffering saints in Jerusalem.

Paul shared some ""housekeeping"" details in the opening verses of chapter 9, but out of these we can draw three more important facets of the ministry of giving.

The first of these principles is the effect our commitment to good stewardship can have on others. The Corinthians' enthusiasm for the project had spurred many of their fellow Christians in Macedonia to share in the blessing of giving (v. 2). There's no substitute for a godly personal example.

Second, we need to avoid the trap of only giving when we feel like we can afford it. Paul urged his readers not to let intervening circumstances derail their good intentions (vv. 4-5). It had been a year or so since the Corinthians had first promised to take up a collection for Jerusalem, and now it was time to fulfil their promise. Our financial condition can change from month to month, even from week to week. But it's important to hold firm to our commitment, whether we have a lot or a little.

A third principle follows from this, and has to do with being purposeful in our giving (v. 5). Nobody likes to feel rushed. That's why Paul told the church to lay aside something for their offering every week (1 Cor. 16:2). If we plan our giving and are consistent with it, we're more likely to develop the habit of regular giving.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We need to keep reminding ourselves of the truth Jesus stated in Matthew 6:21: ""Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.""

In other words, the more faithfully you give, the more you will fall in love with Christ and His work. And for the faithful giver, there is this promise: ""My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus"" (Phil. 4:19). Ask God to help you be faithful in the ""grace of giving.""

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. - 2 Corinthians 9:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Bill Peel advises us to put our material blessings to work for God's glory. ""Paul told us to be 'rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share' (1 Tim. 6:18). This keeps our enjoyment of God's blessings from slipping into selfish indulgence. Wealth is neither a score card nor a security blanket, but a tool--and our compassion should be commensurate with our wealth.""

That's good advice. Paul's closing words to the Corinthians concerning their giving are full of God's promises to those who use their temporary resources for eternal good. The apostle had expressed confidence his readers would rise to the occasion, presenting Titus and his co-workers with an offering when they arrived in Corinth (which they did, according to Rom. 15:26).

Here Paul gives us at least four important reasons for being cheerful givers. The first is the principle of the harvest, which says that the amount we reap is determined by the amount we sow. This teaching can be abused, as in the ""prosperity theology"" so popular today.

But the excess of some doesn't cancel out the fact that God honors those who honor Him (1 Sam. 2:30).

A second reason for cheerful, generous giving is that, as we said before, it pleases God. He loves it when we give out of our hearts for no other motive than His glory. Anytime the Bible says God is pleased by an action or attitude, we'd better mark it down and apply it to our lives.

The verses of today's lesson remind us of a fact that we can easily forget. When it comes to giving, God isn't asking for something that doesn't belong to Him. He's the one ""who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food"" (v. 10). When we give, we're just returning to God a small part of the resources He has blessed us with in the first place.

A third excellent reason to give graciously and cheerfully is that it enables us to meet real needs (v. 12). We touch many lives when we help support God's work.

And finally, our giving generates thanksgiving, praise, and prayer to God (vv. 12-14). When God's people give, He is glorified, and believers grow spiritually.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's hard to overestimate the blessings God makes available to believers who honor Him with their finances.

Paul urged the Corinthians to be generous rather than grudging givers. Grudging givers are usually looking at the balance sheet, afraid they're going to give too much and come up short. Generous givers look at the ministry opportunities and want to make sure these ministries have what they need to do God's work. Where do you fall on the grudging-generous scale of giving?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. - 2 Corinthians 10:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
The story is told that nineteenth-century French statesman Charles Talleyrand once sent a servant with a letter to be delivered, only to look out the window and see the man reading it. The next day, Talleyrand sent another letter with the servant. But this time he added a P.S., telling the recipient to give his answer to the servant rather than writing it out. The reason? Talleyrand was sure his nosy helper had already read the letter and was fully aware of the issue being discussed!

Even though personal letters aren't usually meant to be read by others, Titus must have read 2 Corinthians at some point, with Paul's blessing. He needed to know the contents so he could report to Paul on the Corinthians' reaction.

It's interesting to try and imagine Titus' reaction as he came to the portion of this letter we are beginning today. The transition from the previous chapters is abrupt. It's as if Paul were saying, ""I don't know any other way to do this but to get right to the point.""

What was it that made this transition difficult? In our outline for this study we called this section ""Paul's Vindication (10:1--12:18)."" That's a good word to describe Paul's stern rebuke for those in Corinth who were assaulting his integrity, attacking his apostolic authority, and trying to usurp his leadership in the church.

Dealing with the people he called ""false apostles"" (2 Cor. 11:13), as well as with their followers, was the final major item on Paul's agenda for this letter. The transition into this section is so abrupt, and the words so strong, that some Bible commentators believe these chapters are actually the ""severe letter"" written earlier (2:4) and attached to the end of 2 Corinthians.

But that theory is hard to prove. Paul simply had a tough topic to deal with, and he got down to business. These false teachers may trust in worldly standards of human wisdom, but Paul's weapons were spiritual: the power of God to demolish clever human arguments and ""take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"" (v. 5).

If the false teachers at Corinth thought Paul operated the way they did (v. 2), they were about to learn differently.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How often we need to be reminded of the reality of spiritual warfare, Satan's relentless attack on the children of God.

The devil's favorite battleground is our minds (v. 5). If we can defeat him there, we are well on our way to victory in our actions and attitudes. God's Word is a great defense against the enemy; the more of it we have in our minds and hearts, the less ground we give Satan on which to build a stronghold. How are you doing in this area?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 10:7-18
It is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. - 2 Corinthians 10:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
Although Gerald Ford was one of the most athletic presidents in American history, a popular image of him as awkward and clumsy began to develop after a 1975 incident in which Ford tripped while stepping off his airplane. He got up quickly without being hurt, but the incident became news. Later that day, when Ford's foot slipped twice on a rain-soaked staircase, it was duly reported in the press. Soon, comedians were making jokes about the president and imitating him.

It's amazing how fast a person can get labeled, whether it's accurate or not. Take the apostle Paul, for instance. He learned that the self-important ""super-apostles"" (11:5) troubling the Corinthian church had hung a label on him.

""This guy's letters may be powerful,"" these people said. ""But in person he's a weakling, and he doesn't have anything to say that's worth hearing."" Paul's response to this slander was remarkably restrained (v. 11). He said, in effect, ""We'll see.""

Paul's restraint and humility look very attractive next to the arrogance of his opponents. He said that in this difficult issue of discipline he was going to conduct himself according to ""the meekness and gentleness of Christ"" (2 Cor. 10:1), and he was fulfilling this pledge in an admirable way. Jesus never tried to defend Himself against personal attacks by His enemies, but He never failed to boldly defend the truth of God.

Paul went on to reveal the source of these false teachers' arrogance. We could say they rigged the competition, comparing themselves to each other, so they would come out looking good. They were like a bunch of grade-school dropouts getting together to award each other Ph.D.s!

Paul didn't need to play that kind of comparison game, because his ministry was validated by God. Look at the characteristics of an authentic ministry.

First, Paul could point to solid spiritual results from his work--the Corinthians themselves (vv. 13-14). Second, a God-authenticated ministry doesn't encroach on another's work (v. 15a), which is exactly what the false teachers did. Third, authentic ministry brags about what God is doing, and lets Him hand out the awards (vv. 17-18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We need to take this lesson to heart because, unfortunately, God's people still play the comparison game.

Trying to find our place in the kingdom and our sense of value by comparing ourselves to other people is a bad idea. If you've played this game, you know the outcome. The participants come out either with inflated egos or deflated spirits--both harmful to God's work. Pray that God will help you avoid the dead-end trap of comparison.