Is God at work or not
What is happening in all this Chaos
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:3–10.
Could it be that the true proof of ministry is what you have gone through and suffered more than attendance, popularity, or the respect of your peers? Paul says they are approving themselves as ministers of God; look at the list.
Approving means “to present or demonstrate oneself (as),” “to prove, show by behaviour or conduct”, or “demonstrating through our lives that we are truly God’s servants.”
Patience - they do not quit, no matter what happens
afflictions
necessities
distresses
stripes, imprisonments
tumults labours
watchings
fastings
This is not what people expect. They think that the crowds and the fruit determine success. Troubles, trials, and temptations are God disciplining when He is upset.
Paul says that is not how God measures success.
Success is not comfort or applause but your willingness to pay the price.
Paul likes to bring up what he has had to deal with and still be faithful to God.
Look at what I have endured. Others would have quit. They have quit. My sticking in the face of all this junk tells you I am the real deal.
Look at the results of all the work that God is doing.
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 2 Corinthians 6:6–7.
Paul says God has kept us pure despite the attacks. God is giving us spiritual insights and the endurance to keep serving and to further deepen our kindness. We are not faking our love. We are not here to criticize you. His Spirit is at work in us. We keep teaching the truth, and that is God working in us with His powerful spiritual weapons.
Paul is not standing in his power. He is loaded with truth. God protects and holds him.
The significant contrasts that mark a life formed by the cross:
“By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
Things appear one way but are the other. You see failure, but Heaven sees the faithful. You see Paul as done, finished, and over, but God sees a servant He is still using.
Life is full of contradictions. But these contradictions prove God’s work in our lives.
You might look successful and not be. You may appear a failure, and the opposite may be true.
It can appear that you are successful when you are not.
Time to stop measuring the way everyone else does.
How faithful are you when it all falls apart?
What are the true marks of God’s servants? Not public opinion but endurance.
Success without suffering is shallow. When you can keep loving, serving, and believing through pain, you’re showing the world what Jesus looks like.
What about you? Will you serve when things don’t go the way you want, expect, or even feel you deserve? What will you do when the crowd and even your friends walk away? What happens when the doors close and the world of Christians says you have nothing?
You may be tired, you may feel forgotten, but heaven sees you. The One who called you hasn’t changed His mind. You’re not a failure.