Focal Passage: II Corinthians 1:3-12; 2:14-17
Relationships are very important in our lives. Having good relationships enhances our joy and happiness. Bad relationships do just the opposite. They drain us of joy and happiness and instead fill our lives with anguish and anxiety. Every one of us has experienced both.
This week’s lesson helps us to realize the way we handle relationships is very important whether they be good or bad. It is not only important to us, but important to God. How we deal with our relationships greatly affects our witness for God and what we say about God. The message we convey must be consistent, compassionate and truthful and delivered with a pure heart. If we are going to maintain a right relationship with God, we must maintain a right relationship to others. Our integrity must be of the highest quality if we are to have a strong convincing witness of God’s forgiveness, mercy and power in our lives.
Paul begins this letter with praise. His previous letter to the Corinthians was anything but comforting.
Some false apostles had shown up at Corinth and had managed to discredit Paul and consequently turned many against him. They had convinced many that Paul’s motives were deceptive and manipulative and that he was only trying to profit himself. The great relationship Paul had established with them in the beginning was now in serious distress. They had turned away from him and his teachings as well as the gospel which had brought a swift rebuke from Paul. To say this relationship was damaged would be an understatement. But Paul was not about to compromise the truth of the gospel or the Word of God just to save his relationship with them. Though his heart yearned for reconciliation, God’s truth was more important. He was fully aware his rebuke could widen the chasm between them, but he chose integrity over compromise. However, Paul had received word from Titus that they had responded positively to his rebuke and instructions. Reconciliation had occurred and Paul was greatly comforted by this good news. In turn, he wanted to comfort them by assuring them of his love for them. He wanted to also remind them of God’s comfort and encouraged them to encourage one another through difficult times and circumstances and to stand firm in times of trial. Paul reminded them that we will all suffer because of our relationship with Christ. But, having the comfort and love in relationship with our fellow believers will help us to endure hardship and remain faithful in our Christian walk.
Paul then goes on to assure them of the sincerity of his love and actions. His motives and his work among them was not an effort to extract anything from them. But all that he had done was from a pure heart and genuine love for them and for God. His conscience did not condemn his heart. He encouraged them to live their lives in the same spirit of integrity as they followed Christ. There should be no deception in our relationships, but only genuine love, sincerity and truthfulness.
One cannot study this lesson without examining the relationships we have and how well we are handling them. Are our motives, actions and hearts pure in all our relationships? Are we demonstrating genuine love and sincerity? Are we being deceptive or manipulative? Can we be trusted even when we are misunderstood? Do we comfort one another in genuine love and concern? What about the bad relationships we have? What about good relationships that have turned bad? Do we earnestly desire reconciliation and restoration? Have we compromised our integrity?
Paul closes chapter 2 reminding us who we are in Christ Jesus. He reminds us of our relationship with God the Father. He reminds us that integrity is not something we peddle, but something we live.
— Nimmo is pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Nashville.
