HoHum:
No point in going to see the person dying, will not even know I am there. Hold their hand- “they probably will not know it is me”- is that really the point?- just to have someone there- they’ll know we are Christians by our love- behold how they love one another
WBTU:
We normally think of Paul as a tough troubleshooter. But Paul was also a tenderhearted Christian who knew how to communicate affection. Skipping ahead to chapter 6 of 2 Corinthians (hopefully come back to chapters 5 and 6 around Easter). 2 Corinthians 6:3-13
Thesis: Let’s apply these principles in a practical way to our love for others
For instances:
I. Avoid that Which Offends
2 Cor 6:3- Paul was always concerned about how other people interpreted his actions. Since he loved God and he loved people, he didn’t want to do anything that would damage his testimony in Christ. Paul did not have the attitude, “Well, I’m going to live as I please and the rest of you can like it or lump it.” He was willing to eliminate from his life style anything that would be a stumbling block to other Christians. Some things in the OT are no longer binding upon NT Christians. Those who came from a Jewish background held on to many of the customs and traditions handed down from their ancestors. One of those things was food restrictions- pork a big no no. The Jewish persuasion did not want to eat any meat that came from a pagan butcher. Paul spent many of his words on this in the NT. To sum it up, unless the NT mentions this as binding, Paul basically said, “Look, it’s just a matter of opinion. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling-block or obstacle in your brother’s way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.” Romans 14:13-15. If we love people, we’ll express it by eliminating things that are an obstacle for them to follow Christ, or that will influence them in a negative way. If we love people and seek to influence them for Christ, we have to be aware of things that can offend. They may not be Biblically prohibited, but they are a stumbling block to leading others to Christ. Sin (breaking God’s law) is always an offense; in other areas we may be free as a Christian, but because of our love for people, we choose to abstain.
I choose not to gamble because it can harm my witness. Been around the boats, so many work there in this community, but gambling can be a stumbling block. Many associate gambling with sin, and it would do harm to my witness for Christ if I went and gambled regularly and publicly. If my picture was on the video screen on US 50 as winning a big amount of money, many would be disappointed with me and it would be a stumbling block.
Same with alcohol. There is no verse in the Bible that says, “Thou shalt not drink liquor.” But what would people think if they saw me out in public with a 24 pack of beers drinking some?
Don’t participate in an activity that is going to harm others. We have to be sensitive to younger or weaker Christians who are watching, who could be led astray. We have to be sensitive to unbelievers who are watching and may be influence negatively.
This can be taken to an extreme, some are offended at the most trivial things and we can’t please everybody. We need to be sensitive as to how our behavior is affecting the majority of people.
II. Be Faithful in Times of Adversity
2 Corinthians 6:4, 5- Here Paul lists 9 types of adversities that he endured for the sake of the gospel. The first 3 are general trials that come to us all- troubles, hardships, and distresses. They have to do with pressures we all experience. For example, the word distress means literally, “too narrow a place.” It means to be trapped in our circumstances. Moments when we feel shut in
Next 3 are adversities that are inflicted by others: beatings, imprisonments, and riots. Paul was in jail several times. He wasn’t in jail because he disobeyed the law, he was in jail because he preached the gospel. Today this probably will not happen but we will be ridiculed and isolated
The last 3 are self inflicted, voluntary- hard work, sleepless nights and hunger. In Troas, Paul preached until midnight, until Eutychus fell out the window and Paul restored him. Then Paul went upstairs and preached until dawn- hard work. Hunger probably refers to times he fasted and prayed and chose to go without because of concern for the gospel and others.
One of the best demonstrations of love is how we do when the going gets tough. It’s easy to say, “Oh, how I love Jesus,” when we have a good job and have good health, when our family is together- but how do we endure when life starts falling apart? What happens when the doctor says there is nothing more that can be done. Do we still love the Lord? Do we endure?
III. Be Thoughtful of Others’ Needs
Relationships aren’t designed for selfish individuals- we are the most lonely people in the world
2 Corinthians 6:6,7- 3 words in vs. 6 that require unselfishness
1. Understanding- To understand the feelings of another requires time and sacrifice. Instead of thinking, “How do I feel?” we have to take time to listen and learn the feelings of the other person. Before a couple gets married, a man lies awake thinking about what his girlfriend says. AFter they get married, he falls asleep before she’s finished saying it. Need to take time to listen and think unselfishly about other’s feelings.
2. Patient- A definition of this Greek word is, “the ability to bear with people even when they are misguided and wrong, even when they are cruel and insulting.” When we are self centered, we are impatient. We immediately retaliate when people are cruel or short with us. We lash back, we raise our voices, we are defensive. The unselfish person learns to be patient. His goal is not self defense, but harmony in the relationship, expressing love even when it is hard.
3. Kindness- A word used a lot in our day, one definition is “a sweetness of temper that puts others at their ease and shrinks from giving pain.” This is the opposite of severity. Thinking more of others than of him or herself. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, NIV.
All of us can go back and see times when we were not very thoughtful, self centered, and not easy to live with. Paul said we can do it in the Holy Spirit (in the verse), in the power of God. If we have made Jesus our Lord and Savior and are buried with Him in baptism, we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts. He can transform our lives. MIght take a while, but the Bible says if we are in Christ, the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)
IV. Be Joyful Regardless of the Circumstances
2 Corinthians 6:8, 9, 10- Here we have a series of paradoxes
glory and dishonor- we have to accept criticisms and compliments; bad report and good report- Paul’s enemies hated him, his friends loved him, people reacted to Paul in extremes. Genuine, yet regarded as impostors- some felt Paul was a great apostle; others thought he was a hypocrite. Known, yet regarded as unknown- Christians knew Paul, the world tried to forget Paul.
“Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”- “Be joyful always” 1 Thessalonians 5:16. If our mood is dictated by our circumstances, many times we are going to be a bear to live with. People close to us will have to walk on pins and needles because they are afraid that we are going to explode and lose our temper. This is not easy to live with. Our family will be ill at ease all the time. Demonstrate some compassion and maturity by developing a consistency in our lives. If we are waiting for everything to be ideal so that we can be joyful (happy), we are going to go through life like a yo-yo, and we are going to make people around us ill at east. Say each day, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
V. Express Our Affection Vocally
2 Corinthians 6:11, 12- I remember Shana McCarter- wrote a note, folded it and threw into my study carol in the library. It said, "Take a break and go to Sonic?" I wrote (being a ministry student and wanting to appear super spiritual) “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no-one can work.” John 9:4, NIV, folded it and threw it into Shana's carol. Then she wrote 2 Corinthians 6:12, folded it, threw it my direction and stormed out. She shot me through the heart, but she defined my attitude. Many of the Corinthians were withholding their love for Paul but Paul still expressed his love for them. Turn to someone and say, I love you. The more I listen to those who have lost loved ones, the more I’m impressed with the need for frequent verbal expressions of love. Takes more than words but words can be a start. Who knows what tomorrow brings? No better last words to say than these.
So what?
Mary Martin was about to perform her last act in her last performance in South Pacific. A minute before she went on stage, a stagehand gave her a note. A tear came across her face as she recognized the handwriting as that of Oscar Hammerstein, who at that moment lay dying of cancer. She read the note, not knowing that almost everybody in the room would later know what that note said. It read, “A bell is no bell till you ring it, A song is no song till you sing it, and love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay, love isn’t love till you give it away.” That night she went out and performed South Pacific at a new level. One of the reporters later told her, “There was something different tonight.” She said, “Tonight I gave it away.” Has God put any love in your heart? Find a way to express it and this will bring new fulfillment in life.
Invitation: Faith is a private thing and needs to be kept that way. I am sure a spouse feels the same way- I don’t think so- need to wear that ring and need to tell others who I am. The Lord died upon a cross for us publicly- we need to publicly express our love for him by repentance, confession, and baptism.
