2 Corinthians 11:16-21

¹⁶I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. ¹⁷In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. ¹⁸Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. ¹⁹You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! ²⁰In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. ²¹ To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

Amicable

Have you ever watched people who tried to explain their side but they cannot come into amicable conclusion? Instead, their argument went on and on, and spectators get tired of their endless ridiculous reasonings.

Pride and unwillingness to admit mistake contribute to senseless dispute.

The wisdom that God gave to King Solomon compared the smart and the foolish. How do you interpret what it declares in Proverbs 20:3?

³It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

How can avoiding strife brings honor? What benefit can honor bring? When students are honored in school, parents, relatives and friends rejoice with them. It feels great to be honored. Honor is not confined to emotional gratification. Practically, honor opens greater opportunities: for students possibly, scholarship and even commercial endorsement.

If you are honored in the company, they may give you salary increase or promotion. Other companies may even offer you greater benefits. Avoid strife. It is favorable and broadens more opportunities and greater benefits.

Together, let’s learn from the Gibeonites on how they avoided strife in

Joshua 9:3-6, ³When the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, ⁴they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. ⁵They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. ⁶Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”

Joshua and the Israelites did not inquire of the Lord, and they swore an oath and made treaty of peace with the Gibeonites. Later, they learned that the Gibeonites were just living near them. Israel cannot cancel the treaty of peace they swore to the Gibeonites by the Lord. Actually, it has declared in Joshua 10:2, ²Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters.

The Israelites went to war and destroyed the Canaanites, but the Gibeonites chose to have treaty of peace with the Israelites instead. They avoided strife against the Israelites, and they were spared from destruction.

Avoiding strife is godly advice. It requires godly effort. Can you accept that?

1. Accept

¹⁶I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. ¹⁷In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

Apostle Paul emphasized that they should not take him for a fool. But if in case they think of him as fool, he asked the Corinthians to accept him just the way they would tolerate a fool. Why? He wanted to boast a little. Paul implied that self-confident boasting is foolish. He explained that his foolish boasting did not originate from the Lord. Why is boasting foolish?

We can learn from the wise King Solomon in Proverbs 18:2, ²Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

Previously, Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians how God’s grace transformed them to excel in everything, even in the grace of giving. He boasted to the Macedonians about their desire to contribute and collect offerings to be given to the believers affected by severe famine in Judea. As a result, the Macedonians gave also even beyond their ability to give.

Giving beyond ability to give is the favorable effect of God’s grace.

Apostle Paul considered it as foolishness to brag about the Macedonians’ giving beyond ability to give. Additionally, he explained practical difference between effect of God’s grace of God and obeying God’s law in our life.

Reflect and tell if God’s grace has transformed you personally. Have you discovered if the New Testament mentioned about 10% or God’s tithes or his right portion? Personally, how do we explain Hebrews 7:6? ⁶He collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

The pronoun “He” pertains to Melchizedek. After coming from war, Abraham gave a tenth of his plunder to Melchizedek. Melchizedek was the priest of God Most High in Salem (Jerusalem). Should we interpret that this passage teaches us to give the tithes of God? It declares in Galatians 3:7,

⁷Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.

Everyone who has faith in God are children of Abraham. Abraham exemplified returning God’s tithes. As children of Abraham, we also follow his example and return God’s tithes. But when God’s grace transforms our heart and mind, we give even more than 10% or beyond our ability to give.

When we’re able to give gladly beyond the law of tithing, it is actually God’s grace and inspiration by the Holy Spirit epitomized and exemplified in us. Giving beyond ability to give is on greater level of trust in the Lord.

Returning the right portion of God or his tithes has confused millions of people so that they avoid attending church. Listen carefully: Returning God’s tithes is never required for anyone to attend this church. Returning God’s tithes and offering should be willingly not reluctantly. Will God bless hesitant giving? Hesitation to give his tithes is disobedience to God.

So, pray until you sense gladness and peace and willingness to give.

Many church members explored this mystery from Mark 10:27-30.           ²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” ²⁸Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” ²⁹“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

They left everything to follow Jesus. Does it relate to returning God’s portion? How do you budget $100? Probably, you give $10 to the Lord and use $90 dollars for yourself, right? Peter followed Jesus and said, “We’ve left everything to follow you!” He implied that personal budget was never a concern for them. It is God’s grace work in us to deny ourselves for Christ.

Returning God’s tithes and giving beyond ability to give is sacrificial. Money may offer luxurious life. But by faith, we sacrifice luxurious life for Christ. We trust his promise to multiply 100x whatever we sacrifice for him.

Don’t force sacrificial giving but pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit until you sense peaceful gladness to return his tithes, and God will bless you hundredfold. Let the grace of God accomplish his purpose in your life.

2. Accomplish

¹⁸Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.           ¹⁹You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!

What is boasting in worldly way? We brag about accomplishment, achievements or attainments. We boast about the things we purchased, acquired or project we completed. Whereas, Apostle Paul boasted of what the Lord assigned them to do and not beyond the sphere or area of service.

Actually, Apostle Paul boasted about their mission activities. He also testified of the blessing for responding to God’s calling. Possibly, he wanted to encourage us that sacrificial obedience to the Lord is beneficial spiritually and also physically. Older people have problem about rheumatism, gout or arthritis. Do you feel pain on your feet? Let’s reflect on Romans 10:15. 

¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Did Apostle Paul bragged about his beautiful feet because he brought good news? Beautiful feet allow us to enjoy strolling and gallivanting. If we have strong feet, we can enjoy traveling and visiting beautiful places. An open secret to have beautiful feet is this: Bring the good news of salvation in Christ to potential believers. It is a revelation for having beautiful feet.

Polio Victim

Someone was infected by Poliomylitis (Polio) virus, and his feet were affected. He can walk slowly, but it did not stopped him from going places. He is very active in children ministry, and story-telling is his preferred way to communicate the good news of salvation in Christ.

The Lord blessed him with great communication skill so that he is very much popular among churches. Whenever they needed someone to conduct seminar on story-telling, they invite him, and he gladly travelled without hesitation, may it be in the city or in the countryside.

Of course, those who invite him would pay for his travel expenses and accommodation. Polio may have caused him to struggle walking but despite the polio effect, bringing the good news kept his mobility active.

Most probably, he discovered what Apostle Paul had testified in Philippians 4:12-13. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

¹³I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Contentment in what we have, whether living in plenty or in want or difficult situation we may be forced to endure, God empowers us to be strong and keep on trusting that he provides for our needs physically or spiritually. Interestingly, the English term “strength” evolved from dunamis which is the Greek origin also of the terms power and dynamite.

Christ gives us strength, and the Holy Spirit gives us power. Strength and power from God help us be contented in any situation. Contentment is also practical proof of our adventure with Christ. Can you admit this reality?

3. Admit

²⁰In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.

²¹To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

Paul admitted that he’s foolish to brag about the generous hospitality of the Corinthians. But he was embarrassed to exploit their generosity. However, he expected them to tolerate his self-confident boasting as they tolerated those who enslaved and exploited their generosity. They endured those who took advantage of their patience. They were patient with those proud super-apostles who may have even slapped them in the face.

Apostle Paul never taken advantage of the Corinthians. He never required them to give him salary. But he asked them to tolerate his boasting after he admitted that it was foolish for him to brag. What was his purpose?

Here’s a warning against foolishness in Proverbs 26:4-5. ⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. ⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

The self-confident boasting of Apostle Paul was intended to save even those who have maligned them. He expected that the grace of God transforms anyone who listens to his admonition. Did the foolish boasting of Apostle Paul damage his image? Seriously meditate on what Apostle Paul has also admonished in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, ¹²Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

Whatever it takes, we wish to live in peace with each other. Living is costly without peace and order. The on-going war in the middle caused higher price of gas. In a neighborhood with no peace and order, bicycles or cars could be victimized even if you install the most advanced cctv.

What else? If there’s no peace in the family, everyone, especially children are affected. If there’s no peace in the church, celebration is not wonderful. With peace, we enjoy our 35^th anniversary celebration. Keep praying for peace and our leaders as well. Seriously reflect on what it admonishes us in 1 Timothy 2:1-3, ¹I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior.

Praying for leaders is urgent and pleases God. God blesses us when he is pleased with our prayers. May God give government officials wisdom to prosper our city. May he bless employers to honorably fear him and take care of their employees. May God Almighty bless our leaders to sincerely prioritize him and exemplify devotion to the Lord. Hallelujah! Amen!

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