Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

2 Corinthians 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

The Apostle Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth is well-explained here. He is as a parent to them seeking their interest, serving for their good and spiritual advancement as Solomon says in Proverbs 13:22a A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children… Although he was not physically present with them. His care for them was not diminished by their physical distance apart.

He gave the analogy of the parents’ love for their children. It is almost instinctive for parents to look after the interest of their children. Such is his devotion toward them. And therefore, he was writing this long love letter to exhort them as to the wherewithal of their well-being. And as good parents do, they will not want to be a burden to their children rather be a blessing. He was referring to the point that he did not receive financial support from them so as not to burden them. It is the father’s heart.

2 Corinthians 12:12-13 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

There were wrought in the church in Corinth many signs and wonders and mighty deeds. God’s power was manifested through the ministry of his servant, the Apostle Paul. There was no less of these mighty workings of God in the Corinthian church as there were the other churches founded. Indeed, the Lord instructed him to stay on in Corinth after the initial period where souls were won to God’s kingdom. He stayed for one year and six months. Amidst much opposition, he persevered.

2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

When the Lord brought the Apostle Paul to Corinth, the gospel was preached and the first converts were Cripus, the chief ruler of the synagogue with all his house –

KJV Acts 18:1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:1-11 KJV)

The Lord Himself assured his servant the gravity of the mission at hand – “for I have much people in this city.” The Lord will use His servant to minister to those whom He has in Corith. The Apostle Paul remained in Corinth for a period of one year and six months teaching the word of God to the new believers, grounding them in the faith. His stay in Corinth was amidst much opposition, with steadfast endurance on the part of God’s servant, being assured of the Lord, he persevered to serve in Corinth. Being reminded in that the believers must renew their minds in the ways of God and consecrate themselves to follow Him, the Apostle Paul impressed upon the church their duty before God – Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what isthat good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himselfmore highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

2 Corinthians 12:11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

It was not in the Apostle Paul’s spiritual demeanour to boast of his standing before God. He did so not to bringing any glory to himself rather to ask the Corinthian church to follow him as he follow his Christ. MacDonald observed well here, “He was not behind the most eminent apostles in whom they gloried.” The heart of his servant was not lifted up but was sober for the cause of his Lord.

Someone asked Augustine what was the first of the religious graces, and he said, “Humility.” They asked him what was the second and he replied, “Humility.” They asked him the third, and he said, “Humility.” I think that if we are humble, we have all the graces. Our Lord Jesus sets for us the example of a meek and humble spirit by His consecration and His holy resolve to fulfill His Father’s will always. At the Garden of Gethsemane, He agonized in prayer that the Father would grant Him strength to endure the sufferings and humiliation of the cross to purchase our redemption. The angel appeared unto Him from heaven and strengthened Him. What an encouragement for every suffering saint. Our Lord knows. He understands when we cry to Him when it seems so difficult to walk according to Scriptures. It is indeed through God’s grace. Jesus suffered, and even died, but He rose victorious over death on the third day giving to us everlasting life and hope!

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

In weakness, the Apostle Paul experienced the sufficiency of Christ, aiding him to accomplished His good will for the salvation of souls to the glory of God. He was undergirded with the Lord’s blessing even if it means sufferings of diverse sorts. He was willing to serve his Master because he has understood His glorious plan for now and eternity.

There is a calmness in the heart of God’s servant, this is the Spirit of Christ, instructing and comforting, bringing joy in the midst of suffering and peace in the midst of turmoil. He was willing to submit to God’s sovereign will. In weakness, he found overcoming strength. The mingling of the divine and the mortal was the life of Christ and in whose steps His disciple will walk.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The power of answered prayers is given by the sufficient grace of God as God’s people subsist in weakness. In humble dependence our Lord Jesus says to His disciples, Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. The power of Christ unleashed by a simple asking. What a marvellous way to live. This is God’s way. Indeed, “… this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14).

Prayer is the believer’s power with God. There is always recourse with God. Man may be helpless, but not our God. The burdens of life can often be so overwhelming at times that they threaten to rob the believer of his confidence in God’s ability to help him through yet another impasse. But when we ask, our text tells us, our request shall be met. This is the promise. This is the joy of asking.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

AW Pink observed in his studies of the truthfulness of Scriptures when he said, “One of the chief differences between the Holy Spirit’s description of Biblical characters and the delineations in human biographies is, that the former has faithfully presented their failures and falls, showing us that they were indeed men of like passions with us”; whereas the latter (with very rare exceptions) record little else than the fair and favourable side of their subjects, leaving the impression they were more angelic than human.”

He compares, “Biographies need to be read sparingly, especially modern ones, and then with due caution (remembering that there is much “between the lines” not related), lest a false estimate of the life of a Christian be formed, and the honest reader be driven to despair. But God painted the features of Biblical characters in the colours of reality and truth, and thus we find that “as in water face to face, so the heart of man to man… The practical importance (and it is that which should ever be our first and chief quest as we read and ponder the Scriptures) of what has just been pointed out should preserve both the preacher and hearer from a one-sided experience.”