WORKING WITH HIM

WORKING WITH HIM

"In everything commending our­selves, as ministers of God" 2 Cor. 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. 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’s. 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, in all these things, commend­ing ourselves as ministers of God—that is purpose and responsibility.