Friday 2nd June
Read 2 Corinthians 11:8-11
“I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!” (NIVUK)
What a strange boast. Paul boasts that he is determined to never take a penny from them! What could possibly drive Paul to be so stubborn? We might spend a long time pondering the motivations behind this stubborn boast and ascribe all kinds of less than flattering accusations. It would be wasted time though because Paul tells us plainly why he refuses to accept their money – because he loves them (v11).
How could such a decision be motivated by love? There are two reasons. The first is to undermine their understanding of the gospel as something to be paid for, something they can earn. There is no obligation or reciprocity in accepting the good news about Jesus. The gospel can’t be bought (and by implication – those charging for it may not have the purist of motives). The second reason is because it models the gospel perfectly. In a culture where value is ascribed by how much someone can charge – to charge nothing at all is so counter-cultural as to almost be offensive.
But the ‘foolishness’ of the cross, the foolishness of the gospel, mirrors the life and love of Jesus completely.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) (NIVUK)
Paul is simply teaching them by example the way of the cross. Paul wants them to understand his motives in order that they copy them. Was it a sin (v7)? Or is it a picture of grace?
