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Verse By Verse Devotional On 2 Corinthians By Pastor Jack #41

May 20, 2016 | by: Jack Lash | 0 comments

Posted in: 2 Corinthians

Strike the Shepherd and You Wound the Sheep

2:5 "But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—in order not to say too much—to all of you."

Paul here begins to reveal the trouble in the Corinthian church that had brought on all this in the first place. Paul had stopped in on the believers in Corinth. A problem occurred there between Paul and a certain man in the church. We don’t know the exact nature of the problem. It may have been that Paul had heard of something this man (perhaps along with others) was doing, and went to Corinth to deal with it. Some have speculated that the problem was related to some of the instructions Paul gave in 1Corinthians, instructions which some did not follow. For instance, some speculate that certain members of the Corinthian church did not accept Paul’s teachings about refraining from participation in idol festivals and the sexual immorality associated with them. If this was the case, we can understand how Paul might rush to deal with the situation in Corinth once he heard of the refusal of some to comply.

Whatever the case, though, the problem became a show-down between Paul and one particular man. It is reasonable to conclude that this man led the opposition to Paul during the visit to Corinth, challenging the apostle’s authority before the whole congregation.

Here Paul is saying that by doing so this man caused sorrow not only to him, but to the whole congregation as well.

This helps us see that an attack on a church leader is an attack on the church itself. First, it sets a destructive example, encouraging others to challenge and resist the leadership (it doesn’t take much to get us sinners into a rebellious attitude).

Second, it preoccupies the leader. It steals time and energy that could be devoted to other, more constructive, things. Paul missed other ministry opportunities because he was preoccupied with the situation at Corinth (e.g. 2Cor.2:12-13).

Third, it discourages the leader, making it unpleasant for everyone. What these men were doing in Corinth seems to be the exact opposite of what God commands in Heb.13:17:

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you."

If the people do not treat the leaders right, then it not only causes the leaders grief (instead of joy) but is unprofitable for everyone.

This reminds me of a T-shirt someone gave my wife that says: "If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy." There’s a lot of truth to that. Make the leaders’ job a joy and it will benefit everyone. Bring him grief and everyone tastes the bitterness.

There is, of course, a time to make an issue about a church leader. It should be done privately first, according to the principles of Matt.18:15-17. If it develops to the point that it needs to be made public, 1Tim.5:19-20 should be followed.

Father, help us realize the impact we have on others. Help us not to be reckless in the way we deal with people. Help us to treat others with reverence and care, knowing that their joy will be a blessing to many and that their grief will mean damage to others. Help us especially to appreciate our leaders and try to make sure we don’t cause them any unnecessary grief.

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