2 Corinthians 6 is a great study on how to deal with adversity in our lives. Paul's testimony concerning all of his hardships, and how he was able to overcome them gives us a template of how to have victory over the trials and troubles we may face in our lives. The key to victory is found in V.4 – in much patience! Patience is the active response of exercising our faith / hope / trust in the Lord as we go through the journey of pain and suffering. Paul lists nine general circumstances in V.4-5, that we may face throughout our lives. The first three are common to everyone, and the last six are less common. Afflictions: trials under pressure that we may face on a daily basis, whether on the job, or in relationships. Necessities: everyday hardships that are part of being alive on planet earth. Distresses: experiences that push us into corners there seems to be no escape. Our mistakes are our lessons, and our sorrows are our credentials that open the door for the ministry of reconciliation that we are all called to. After Paul lists the nine difficult circumstances, he gives us nine character traits / attitudes exhibited by a mature believer in V.6-7. By pureness: there is no piety without purity! Blessed are the pure in heart – Matthew 5:8 By Knowledge: studying the Word of God is paramount to overcoming the trials that befall us in our daily lives – 2 Timothy 2:15 By longsuffering: patience with difficult people. God exercises great patience toward the world in general, and each of us in particular, in this mystery period of history known as dispensation of grace – 2 Peter 3:9 All nine of the attributes listed in V.6-7 are tools at our disposal, ready to be implemented when the afflictions, necessities, and distresses of daily life come upon us! James 1:2-4: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. V.8-10 give us nine paradoxes of what is seen on the outside by man, as compared to what God is doing on the inside. Yes, we are all quick to judge another person based on what we see, but we rarely have any insight as to what is really going on in that individual's life. We must remember what the Lord Jesus Christ gave up in order to provide the gift of salvation to each of us. 2 Corinthians 8:9: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. Lastly, Paul gives us a warning about being unequally yoked together with unbelievers in V.14-18. This is traditionally used concerning dating and marrying unbelievers, which is most certainly the case. It is also a warning concerning entering a business partnership. Business partners need to see “eye to eye” concerning all aspects of life in order to have as little friction as possible when decisions need to be made. Amos 3:3: Can two walk together, except they be agreed? The term “yoked” is a farming illustration concerning putting two animals of contrary natures – the ox and the ass, together for the purpose of plowing a field. The ox is a picture of a saved person, with a submissive nature. The ass is a picture of a lost person, with a rebellious, self -willed nature. Paul uses the ox treading the corn as a picture of Christian leaders and how they should be paid – 1 Timothy 5:18 (Deuteronomy 25:4). The Old Testament is filled with type and shadow, giving us physical pictures of spiritual realities we experience in this dispensation of grace. It has been said. “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Deuteronomy 22:10: Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. Exodus 13:13: And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. The only farm animal that was required to have a lamb sacrifice is the ass. This is as clear a picture of the need for the Lamb of God, to be slain for us! Jesus had to die the hideous death of the cross to make the way of salvation / redemption for us. Salvation transforms us from an ass to an ox! We are truly new creatures in Christ, not just reformed persons still in our old nature. Friends, this is why we must be careful to teach our children to only seek out truly saved individuals to date and certainly to marry! Please read a chapter a day this week, beginning with 2 Corinthians 7, in preparation for our overview next week.
