Monday, October 20, 2008

2 Cor. 6:4-10

2 Corinthians 6:4-10
"...As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything."

This verse has so many things in it and it would take some time to explain all of it. But I will say that this certainly isn't what the Prosperity Gospel teaches. The Prosperity Gospel would most likely take part of the last verse ("as poor, yet making many rich") and then misinterpret it.

Now, I believe that what Paul is telling us is that though we are persecuted, though we are thought of as impostors, we have so much more in Christ. Though we die, we live (in Christ). Though we are poor, we are rich (in Christ). Though we nothing, we have everything (in Christ).

After reading this passage, read it again. You are sure to get more out of it a second time.
If you don't have time for God's Word, you may be too busy. I encourage you to study and read the Bible and, if need be, to change your priorities.

3 comments:

Caron said...

Amen! Praise God He has given you such wisdom!

You will love the work of Justin Peters. See his video at http://www.justinpeters.org

He is an expert on the "prosperity" gospel and provides a sound, biblical critique of the movement.

He gave his full length seminar at my church and comes highly recommended by my pastor, Dr. John MacArthur.

God bless you!

Grandma of Many said...

Thank you David for the post. You are learning so much and I am so proud of you. Keep studying the Word and keeping your priorities right. You've encouraged me too. Love you, Grandma Dot

Josiah said...

Great post David. What else can I say... It's true!