A Glass That Is Half Empty?
I may not find you as I want you to be. 2 Cor 12:20
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2 Corinthians 12:14-21 (NIV)
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?
18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!
17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?
18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
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A group of staff, who served friends with mental challenges, were finding it
harder to go into work each day. It seemed nothing was going well for them and
that no one was interested in their needs. Those who were seeking to serve Christ as
administrators were being maligned. It seemed to the staff that frontline workers
were being treated as second class citizens. Pay levels were not what they
should be. The existing benefits package was under review.
Shifts at work were being altered.
harder to go into work each day. It seemed nothing was going well for them and
that no one was interested in their needs. Those who were seeking to serve Christ as
administrators were being maligned. It seemed to the staff that frontline workers
were being treated as second class citizens. Pay levels were not what they
should be. The existing benefits package was under review.
Shifts at work were being altered.
While the leaders within the mission sought to communicate their challenges fully,
it seemed impossible. Shifts had to be altered in order to adequately cover the
busiest hours of the day. In most cases, this meant working the early morning hours
and the evening hours. Most staff would prefer working from 9 to 5.
“I thought that when I went to work for a Christian mission that everything would
be wonderful, happy and that I would feel blessed.” This is a common sentiment,
but totally ignores that little statement where Christ said something about
taking up a cross and following Him.
The same sentiments can be heard as people become disillusioned with their
church. Perhaps the young people’s leader isn’t pulling his or her weight.
Criticism becomes a way of life, and it turns out that less and less is as it ought to
be! Conversations take place between friends where they outline their concerns and
feed each other’s sense of frustration. There is quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. Now wait just a moment!
Aren’t these the very words the apostle Paul used in writing to the
church in Corinth? (2 Cor 12:20)
The problem wasn’t with Paul, who was trying to reach their hearts. It wasn’t
about Titus. It wasn’t because the people of Corinth had been deceived, tricked or
exploited. The problem Paul is addressing belonged to the complainers! They were
embracing the sin of undermining others instead of making every effort to
meet the needs of others as Christ’s hands and feet.
Take a moment today to quietly review your recent conversations with friends.
While doing your review, you might take a moment to ask God to help you as you
seek to honour Him in your relationships. Paul concludes his statement by asking
each reader to consider if they have failed to repent of impurity, sexual sin and
debauchery. We all need to search our hearts before God. “Aim for perfection,
listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love
and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11) God help us!
While doing your review, you might take a moment to ask God to help you as you
seek to honour Him in your relationships. Paul concludes his statement by asking
each reader to consider if they have failed to repent of impurity, sexual sin and
debauchery. We all need to search our hearts before God. “Aim for perfection,
listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love
and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11) God help us!
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Heavenly Father, it seems that much of my time is spent wrestling with negative
feelings. Somehow, it does not seem like my relationships are as filled with joy as
they once were. It seems that when I go to church, I go with a hurt heart and fully
prepared to dwell on the things that I do not appreciate. I am not always happy or
content in You. Help me! I want to enjoy You and my friends like I used to. Amen.
feelings. Somehow, it does not seem like my relationships are as filled with joy as
they once were. It seems that when I go to church, I go with a hurt heart and fully
prepared to dwell on the things that I do not appreciate. I am not always happy or
content in You. Help me! I want to enjoy You and my friends like I used to. Amen.
- Noel Churchman
Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.
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