12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. -2 Corinthians 1:12-14
There are a lot of people out there using religion, especially Christianity, for their own gain. This is true today and this was true back int he Apostle Paul’s day. There were those who preached Christ out of personal gain whether it be for reputation, for wealth, or for both. Some of you might have heard for the Wealth & Health Gospel, a popular heresy (false teaching) taught by some of televangists that basically says that God wants to make you rich and never get sick. And conveniently, you can achieve this by sending the televangists money. Please, don’t send them money.
What they are teaching just simply isn’t true. Jesus himself was poor and he died on a Cross, and the Bible tells us that Jesus lived the perfect life. Yesterday in cabin time, one of the students mentioned that he is learning that the Christian life is actually filled with a lot of trials and obstacles. That’s truth.
The Apostle Paul here is addressing the concerns that some people might think he is preaching for personal gain. He’s assuring them that his sole purpose is to help them grow in the faith—not to get something from them.
When you serve God, are you doing it for God or are doing it for personal gain? Are you trying to impress your church friends? Are you trying to get some guy or girl to notice you? Are you doing it to be in the spotlight? If so, be very careful because you’re doing what the televangists are doing—using God for their own gain.
Are you using God or are you allowing God to use you?
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