2 Corinthians 10:15-18

¹⁵Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Sari-sari Store

In the Philippines, they have “Sari-sari” store. “Sari-sari” is translated “Variety.” “Sari-sari” store sells variety of goods and groceries for domestic consumption. The owner of Sari-sari store is the manager, cashier, bagger, salesperson, purchaser, and bookkeeper. In short, the Sari-sari store owner does all the works required for the variety store to operate. Sari-sari store is small business enterprise that the owner can manage on daily basis.

In comparison, big business enterprises require numerous workers. Their employees have designated job descriptions they should focus on to.  Similarly, the structure of the kingdom of God is a collaboration of various talents and spiritual gifts with the purpose to expand here on earth.

Let’s reflect on what it declares in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, ⁵What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Church leaders, pastors or ordinary church members, we serve God together. We hope and anticipate God to reward according to our labor. We are co-workers serving God. In the family of God, there are various spheres or areas of ministry service. All ministry activities complement each other.

It’s very important to serve in the sphere or domain of ministry activity that God called us to excel. Why? God appropriated rewards according to our efforts. And participation in the ministry activities is crucial for spiritual growth. We hope and anticipate for everyone to grow mature spiritually.

1. Anticipate

¹⁵Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand,

Apostle Paul hoped the Corinthians have grown mature spiritually. He anticipated that the sphere of their ministry activity will expand beyond their church setting. Participate in ministry activities to cultivate your spiritual life.

We hope that we all grow mature spiritually. We anticipate that Christ returns sooner. Let’s reflect on Acts 8:1-4, ¹A great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ²Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. ⁴Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Before the great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, all believers were one in heart and mind. They shared their possessions with everyone. They continued to testify of the resurrection of Jesus, and their number increased rapidly. They gathered regularly, but God allowed them to be persecuted and scattered, why? Maybe, it was the Lord’s way to force them comply to his mandate to witness for Christ to the ends of the earth?

When God calls disciples to serve and they defy his call, God shakes the church to accomplish his purposes. Those he chose for mission activity will leave the church to serve him somewhere. Those he chose to remain will remain. It’s very painful experience, if God shakes his church to split.

Jesus Christ our Lord was given all authority in heaven and on earth. What did Christ promise in Matthew 28:19-20? ¹⁹Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

The term “Nation” was translated from the Greek word “Ethnos” which the term “ethnic” evolved from. Ethnics, tribes or nations around the world need Christ, particularly those who’re not religious. Listen: Has God called you to serve him in missions? You may go as fulltime missionary or just for short-term. You can pray for missions or financially support mission.

Christ Jesus our Lord promised to be with us always as long as we go and make disciples of all nations. This desire to go and make disciples comes from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit of Christ. We sense joyful peace to serve him in mission ministries associated to making disciples.

It’s great experience to make disciples for Christ. We can experience more of the presence of Christ when we make disciples. So, aspire for it.

2. Aspire

¹⁶so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.  For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Apostle Paul aspired to preach the gospel beyond Corinth. He also challenged involvement in missions. The pronoun “we” originally pertained to the mission team of Apostle Paul, but “we” are also included when “we” aspire to preach the gospel of salvation in Christ beyond the church setting.

Boasting about achievements may amplify active involvement and avoid idleness. Boasting within the sphere of ministry activity that God assigned us to serve him is commendable to the Lord. It also testifies to his transformational work in our life, why? Serving God in the ministry with enthusiasm cultivates our faith in Christ and optimizes our spiritual life.

Sibling Rivalry

You heard about sibling rivalry. Why do siblings try to outshine each other? Maybe, it’s parental approach effect when parents praise one child in the hearing of another child or they commend their son or their daughter. They say, “Hey! Your brother is smarter. Hey! Your sister is more obedient.”

There’s a child who was academically gifted. He was also obedient. Another child was naughty and also rebellious. Their mother would praise her gifted child in front of her naughty child. The naughty child interpreted that their mother favored the academically gifted and obedient child.

Parents may have favoritism. Can parental favoritism cause children to rebel? If children take parental favoritism as challenge to develop their craft improve and productive, that’s great! When they enter adulthood, they won’t be satisfied with mediocrity. Keep improving your talent and skill.

Don’t be bother by what others say behind your back. People who care for you, are not bothered by your limits. People who love you are not judgmental about your mistakes. People who always find your faults are not worth your time. Constructive or not let criticism pushes you for betterment.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4 teaches, ³I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. ⁴My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

Troublemakers in the Corinthian church tried to malign Apostle Paul. Possibly, the original church attendees praised Paul and his mission team, and those who heard them were not amused. After Paul and his team left Corinth, those who joined the Corinthian church later had no idea about Paul. So, they maligned and disregarded him during church conversation.

Paul heard about those gossips that caused factions in the Corinthian church. Some of them followed Apollos. Some followed Cephas or Peter. Some followed Paul, and still some said they followed Christ.

Their church fellowship had practically been disorganized because everyone followed their preferred leader. Why does God allow disturbances in the church? God shakes the church for us to consider his call to mission.

Joseph

Reflect on Joseph’s life in Genesis 37:2-4, ²Joseph, a young man of 17, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. ³Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. ⁴When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Joseph was loved by their father more than any of his brothers. His brothers hated Joseph because of that including his bad report about them. Joseph may even flaunted and paraded the colorful robe his father gave.

They hated Joseph so intensely that they sold him as slave. Why did God allow it? God designed that Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt. Joseph acknowledged it and declared later in Genesis 50:19-21.

¹⁹“Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Joseph suffered maltreatment, but he trusted that God had wonderful plan for him. He didn’t retaliate. As Prime Minister in Egypt, Joseph was powerful, and his brothers were scared that he might punish them.

The Lord won’t let go unpunished anyone who may offend us. Can you believe it? God takes care of everything he planned and approves.

3. Approve

¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Listen carefully: The Scripture was given for us to know activities and behavior that the Lord approves. He commends us when we follow his plan for us. It is not smart but anyone might commend themselves, why? It is survival of fittest. We don’t want to be doormat or pushover or loser.

It’s human nature. We want to excel. We want to win somehow. We want to belong in a group. We want others to appreciate us—our ability.

We want to be great. What did the Lord require about being great?

To be great in God’s kingdom, Christ advised in Matthew 20:25-28. ²⁵You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ²⁶Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God Almighty, and he came to serve the purposes of his Father. He willingly let himself be tortured, and at the cross, he suffered for the punishment of our sins. The greatest way for us to serve God is to follow his instruction. We serve him in the sphere of service or area of ministry that he assigned for us to excel.

Professional Basketball

Practically, professional basketball can showcase that when players excel in their craft, they are paid handsomely. Players prepare seriously to be the best they can be. Basketball team owners offer appropriate price to secure the best player even the best coach available to join their team.

To become the best we can be is developed from what we really do when nobody is watching. We are encouraged in Philippians 2:12-15, ¹²As you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. ¹⁴Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.

Whether someone is watching or not and we obey the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, it practically affirms that we are saved. By God’s grace, we trust and obey him. We enthusiastically serve him in the sphere or area of ministry activity that he assigned for us to excel.

It’s God’s favor to spontaneously follow him without complaint. We aspire to be pure, blameless, and faultless in a warped and crooked world.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ exemplified that kind of obedience that God approves. Christ obeyed the Lord God Almighty even to his death on the cross. And God prepared the highest praise, honor and glory for him forever and ever. We then, proclaim his death and resurrection regularly as we hope and anticipate to see his praise and glory when he returns. Amen!

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