HAVING NOTHING BUT RICH – MYSTERIES OF GOD

HAVING NOTHING BUT RICH – MYSTERIES OF GOD

“Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God……but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses.” 2 Cor. 4:1; 6:4

In these words the participle "commending" has close connection with the participle "working" in the first verse of the chapter. "Working together with God . . . in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God." Here we have the secret of power and the burden of responsibility in all Christian service. Whatever we are called upon to be, or do, or suffer, we find the necessary resources in our fellowship with God, as we become more like Christ. Our responsibility is that we commend ourselves (first to God, and also to those among whom we serve), as ministers of God. Some of the things included in this "everything" follow in the Apostle's letter, first, things of trial, patience, afflictions, necessities, distresses, stripes, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching’s, fasting, then things of grace; pureness, knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, the Holy Spirit, love unfeigned the word of truth, the power of God, then things of conflict, the armor of righteousness, glory and dishonor, evil report and good report. Then things of experience, the double experience of the servants of God, that of what the world thinks of them, and that of their secret life with God; deceivers, yet true; unknown, yet well known; dying and living; chastened, not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making rich, having nothing, yet possessing all things. In all these things, working with God--that is comfort and strength. And in all these things, commending ourselves as ministers of God--that is purpose and responsibility. See 1 Cor. 4:1 above.