Paul opens his second letter to the Corinthians by calling us to be conduits of comfort. God comforts us so that we can comfort others with the comfort we received from God. It's akin to why God gives us money--not only for our own needs but to be a blessing to others with the money we recognize as coming to us from the hand of our God. Later in 2 Corinthians Paul says, "You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." (2 Cor. 9:11)
As we experience suffering and the grace of God to sustain us in it, so God equips us and enlists us for ministry to others. We act as conduits of comfort not by telling people, "I made it through; so can you." But by saying, "I couldn't do it, but God gave me strength." In 2 Cor. 1:9 Paul speaks of God's lesson through the severity of his affliction: "But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." Paul will reiterate this point toward the close of his letter when he says, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." That strength is found in the power of Christ and the sufficiency of His grace . (2 Cor. 12:9-10) That means for us to be conduits of comfort, we need to point people to Christ.
To borrow Paul's words regarding money, we are called to be generous in every way with the comfort with which we have been enriched by the grace of God. The upshot of the principle, whether it be comfort or money, will be thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ.
2 comments:
Stan, this is so true for me! I am finding that as my body gets weaker, my spirit is strengthened by God to share comfort and faith with others.
Stan, Very well said!
All things have their purpose in glorifying God.
When we suffer we thank Him for not leaving us when times get tough, rather He shores up our faith in Him as He weakens our hold on this world.
When we are without suffering we thank Him for giving us good health and a sound mind. And as we recognize His hand in this He shores up our faith that we might trust in Him and not in the world's provision.
All too often we take the sustaining providential works of God for granted. Every breath that we take is because of His goodness towards us. Every sip of water is a great blessing (just ask those who are dying around the world because they have no clean water).
When we do take God for granted in this way, He is sometimes pleased to allow suffering to come our way so that we can shake off our ingratitude and be refreshed in our reliance upon Him.
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