Living Bigger-Than-Life

II Corinthians 11: 7-33

Did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the Gospel of God to you without charge? 
I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren come from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.
As the Truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. 
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

Paul is asking them if he insulted them by not charging them for sharing God's Good News with them, for not making them pay for his services. He let other churches pay him for working in Corinth, and when he had a shortage, the brothers from Macedonia came and supplied everything he needed, so he didn't ask the Corinthians for anything in return. And he still won't.

Did he give everything to them for free because he didn't value them or love them? Of course not, he just didn't want anything to get in the way of their being able to hear and receive the wonderful Love of God! 

But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 

Paul will continue to preach for free in Corinth, so as not to give these men who are taking advantage of them, who are presenting themselves as equal to Paul, any way to accuse him of taking advantage of them in any way. 

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 

These guys are lying to you, Corinthians. Don't fall for their slick stories, leading you down a slippery slope.

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 
Therefore it's not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.  

Satan was the original angel of light, Lucifer, until he decided to take the worship that belongs to God for himself, and became Satan, who accuses the brethren before God the Father. So he knows how to appear as he used to be.

So it's no surprise when his minions also lie and wear the garb of "righteousness" to spew their lies and deceptions. 

And their end will come to them, if they don't turn to the Lord, separated from Him forever. 

Again I say, let no man think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.
What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 
Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also. 

Paul says that, since these Corinthians are listening to all these guys who have all these credentials, well Paul also has very high credentials, if they want to compare.  

For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.
To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.  

The Corinthians are letting these guys take such extreme advantage of them that they are allowing them to walk all over them, and even to get physical in attacking them. 

So Paul says that since he is meek and gentle, that he must look weak, since he won't exert his authority in physical ways. 

But in whatever respect anyone else is bold--I speak in foolishness--I am just as bold myself. 

So if they want to boast and compare, then I will play their foolish little game for a while.  

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 

I have just as good a pedigree as they have. 

Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; 

I must be out of my mind to be so focused on myself to spout off all these things I have suffered because of following Christ: 

in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of  death.
Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 

These are just the things that happened to me. 

Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 
Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? 
If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. 

What's even worse is the daily concern I have for all my brothers and sisters in all the churches I founded who are exposed to all the spiritual attacks. I love these people, and when they hurt, I hurt, too.  

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 

You know I'm telling the truth here, not stretching it in any way, just the facts. And here's one more thing:

In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,
and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.  

Can you imagine all the stress that Paul was under, with everywhere he went and all he went through; as well as all the concern he had for all the people he won to the Lord, who he felt responsible for. 

Paul was a man who lived his life bigger-than-life. There are few people who can do this, and I admire the strength they have to endure and triumph over all the pressure and stress that is put on them, physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.  

Our God is such a great God, and He can give us His immense strength to gain the victory over every attack, every pressure, every stress, that our enemy, this World, and our own flesh can put on us. Anyone who is as sold-out as Paul was will also be able to live his or her life bigger-than-life, as Paul did. 

O my Father, I pray that You would only give me the strength to face the pressures and sorrows and attacks that are against me this day. 

Help me to face one day at a time, as this is what You are giving me. Let me not fret over the past, nor worry about the future. Just let me focus on this day I am living right now, and lean on You for strength. 

Help me, Father, to gain the victory over the concerns I have today. Strengthen me to face the challenges, and to glorify You with every thought, every idea, every word, every action, and every contact I have with myself and others today. 

Father, continue to prepare me for all the bountiful blessings You want to lavish on me, so that I will be equipped to enlarge and magnify Your great Kingdom. To glorify Your magnificent Name. To have an abundant treasure to cast at the feet of my Lord and Savior. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Lord God Almighty, our sovereign King of the Universe, to the eternal glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever, Amen!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!