I’ve become a fool! You made me do it. Actually, I should have been commended by you. I’m not inferior to the super-apostles in any way, even though I’m a nonentity. The signs of an apostle were performed among you with continuous endurance through signs, wonders, and miracles. How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself wasn’t a financial burden on you? Forgive me for this wrong! Look, I’m ready to visit you a third time, and I won’t be a burden on you. I don’t want your things; I want you. It isn’t the children’s responsibility to save up for their parents but parents for children. I will very gladly spend and be spent for your sake. If I love you more, will you love me less? We all know that I didn’t place a burden on you, but in spite of that you think I’m a con artist who fooled you with a trick. I haven’t taken advantage of you through any of the people I sent to you, have I? I strongly encouraged Titus to go to you and sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we live by the same Spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same footsteps? Have you been thinking up to now that we are defending ourselves to you? Actually, we are speaking in the sight of God and in Christ. Dear friends, everything is meant to build you up. I’m afraid that maybe when I come you will be different from the way I want you to be, and that I’ll be different from the way you want me to be. I’m afraid that there might be fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly conduct. I’m afraid that when I come again, my God may embarrass me in front of you. I might have to go into mourning over all the people who have sinned before and haven’t changed their hearts and lives from what they used to practice: moral corruption, sexual immorality, and doing whatever feels good. (2 Corinthians 12:11-21, CEB)
Paul is telling the Corinthians that he is a fool for them. Because the things he is doing are meant to build up their faith.
Leaders in the church do things they would never do to help those in their care deepen their faith. This is evident in youth workers who act way younger than their physical age to help the youth of congregations hear, see, and live the word of God. And the end is meant to deepen faith and help people grow.
Paul is one who spent time talking about being all things for all people and sometimes we try to do things so others will see God’s love. Deepening faith is something leaders in the church want for all people.
Help others see God’s love and if it means you need to stretch a bit and do something you wouldn’t do, then maybe give it a shot and let others see God’s love.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 