Verse By Verse Devotional On 2 Corinthians By Pastor Jack #36

Paul’s Gladness

2:1-2 "But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?"

The NASB here is somewhat misleading when it translates Paul as saying: "for my own sake." The NIV makes clear what Paul means: "So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you."

Here Paul is restating what he said in 1:23: I did not visit you again as I originally had planned because I didn’t want to cause you an excessive amount of grief. (Remember that Paul had paid them an unexpected visit which had proven to be very unpleasant, precipitating a severe letter from Paul. Because of this he had decided to postpone his planned visit, in order to give them time to respond to the things he had said in the letter. Now he is defending himself against the charge of vacillating.)

In verse 2 Paul uses the occasion to express his affection for them: If I caused you excessive sorrow, who would be left to make my heart glad? In other words, this is Paul’s charming way of saying that he loves them and counts them as his dear children in the faith.

There are two lessons to note here:

1- It is right for us to be affected by how others are doing. If our beloved ones are struggling, we’re supposed to feel it. If they are thriving, we should be encouraged by it. Paul was right to be grieved by their grief and encouraged by their prospering.

"Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?" (2Cor.11:29)

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Rom.12:15)

"If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it." (1Cor.12:26)

Our attempts to protect ourselves from experiencing pain on behalf of others is usually wrong-headed. Christ entered into our pain. He wept when his friend died. He wept over the rebellious city.

2- We need to learn to put aside our pride and speak to each other with the same dignity and affection as Paul does to the Corinthians when he tells them that they are the ones who make him glad. We need to say this kind of thing to our children, we need to use this kind of language with our spouses, we need to talk this way with our friends in Christ. People need to know the love of Christ. But explanation isn’t enough. They have to see it. They have to taste it.

Let’s bring Paul’s situation closer to home. Imagine that you told a Christian couple that you were planning to stop by some time to see them next week. But at church on Sunday you spoke briefly with them about a touchy subject and they exploded. In response, you wrote them a letter strongly but lovingly confronting them about their behavior. You decided not to visit until you received some response, thinking that it would only make matters worse. Now you hear that they’re offended you didn’t visit, so you write another letter explaining why you didn’t come. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing to say that the reason you didn’t visit was because you might make them even more sorrowful than your letter has already made them, and that if they are sorrowful, who will be left to bring you encouragement and joy?

The way Paul is speaking here is not a formula, but it is an example of speaking the truth in love (Eph.4:15), of seasoning your speech with salt (Col.4:6), of answering gently in order to turn away wrath (Prov.15:1).

"The lips of the righteous feed many." (Prov.10:21)

"Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness." (Prov.16:21)

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Prov.16:24)

"Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious." (Eccl.10:12)

"So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." (Rom.14:19)

Father, forgive me for how in pride I have not sweetened my speech so that it reflects the love of Christ. Your word says of Him that the people were "wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips." O Lord, make my mouth a fountain of gracious words. Make me humble enough to lift others up in love. I want to be more than just nice, I want to be Christ-like and Paul-like. I present my mouth to You as an instrument of righteousness and love.