Commendation
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul spends a chapter encouraging his followers to cut the nonsense. It appears that some leaders had begun to question Paul’s sincerity of walk and demean his teachings. Later commentaries suggest that chapter 10 of 2 Corinthians is a defense of Paul’s ministry put forth by Paul himself. I think Paul would have suggested a different reason for his writing if he could have, but the ultimate result is a chapter in the Bible that removes all formality and pointedly instructs believers to “look at what is before your eyes.”
Throughout the long history of mankind and our religions there have always been disputes as to the validity of a particular tenant of faith or on the effectiveness of a particular practice or even on which leading expositor was most powerful. These disputes have generally been annoyances to the real, purposeful body of believers. But at times they have been destructive to the extreme - even to the point of people dying.
Paul’s declaration to the Corinthians should give all “modern” believers a clear path of discernment regarding such triviality. However, possibly due to lack of study in God’s Word or due to Christian leaders ignoring the passage, many believers are not aware of Paul’s words at all. This is my attempt to shed some light on an issue that Paul had to personally tackle in his day and which is rampant throughout the Christian culture today.
When Paul’s followers confronted him with the words of others who challenged the veracity of God’s work, his reply smacked them upside the head. “If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.” In other words, this Johnny-Come-Lately ain’t the only person going to heaven. Paul goes on to make it crystal clear that while there is plenty in which he, Paul, could boast about to the readers, he had no intention on doing so. He would not get involved in comparison, nor did he feel under compulsion to influence his readers’ perception of his ministry. Paul understood who he was and where the measuring stick resided. It was not with the church at Corinth or those putting into question Paul’s ministry.
What Paul did explain for the Corinthians and for billions of believers who have lived since his time was a principal of commendation coming from God. In his own words Paul states, “We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence.” Paul had no intention of claiming commendation for areas worked by others. He would not create his platform, boast of his accomplishments and gain acclaim for work that was performed in “another’s area of influence.”
As the primary missionary and leading apostle to the gentiles Paul would have been justified in boasting of his ministry to Corinth as well as all over Asia Minor. He surely could have supported a claim of predominance in the ministry to the early gentile churches. But he was not intent on gaining the commendation of man. As he states in the final sentences of the chapter:
Commendation for the believer should be reserved for the Lord God Almighty. It is He who has called, it will be Him who rewards and it should be God’s commendation sought while the work is performed. However, it seems that Christians are more concerned with receiving man’s acclamation than listening to what God has to say about them. In their lifetime effort, they look to others to give them the commendation that makes all their effort, even their lives, worthwhile.
Man’s commendations are not worth the time or effort. Seeking man’s commendation and comparing yourself with your peers is unfruitful and misleading. Boasting before men, desiring praise from men or, worst yet, to degrade the work or life of another on the basis of comparison with men, is a way “without understanding”. It is ignorant.
Cut off the comparison. Stop seeking commendation from people that have no right to give it. Put no weight on words of criticism from people who have no clue. Receive God’s commendation, the One who truly understands and truly loves.