Now we get back to the defence and description of Paul's ministry. First they put no stumbling blocks in anyone's path. We need to be careful that we do not do things that unnecessarily offend people. The gospel is offensive enough! There is a battle when the good news is preached, but we need to make sure the battle is about the right things, namely God's goodness and glory, and man's sin and need to repent.
Instead of putting obstacles in people's way Paul did things that would commend them. Above all else this meant great endurance, enduring all sorts of things.
Being a servant of Christ and fairness do not go together. Jesus was not treated fairly, nor are His servants. If you are interested in your rights, in getting a fair deal, then forget following Jesus. Now the world puts pressure on us, saying that unless we are getting our "rights" something is wrong, and we will only be happy, and should only be happy when we get our "rights". This way does not work. If we want to be truly content, then we need to have a deep love for Jesus, a deep love for people, and a Godly passion for the gospel. We need to be motivated by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
These verse are an answer to cheap prosperity teaching. As servants of Christ and children of God we have a different motivation and a different source of life to the rest of the world. The life that Christ gives us enables us to overcome all things and to triumph in all situations.
Paul has been completely open with the Corinthians, he has made himself vulnerable. Now he implores them to do the same. When we put up a veneer, when we wear a mask, we make it impossible for God to get through to us. Now we need to be wise in who we trust, but we do not need to fear the truth, even the truth about ourselves, for Christ has won complete salvation for us, and the truth will set us free.
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