22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
To be sure, it remains the undoubted character for every true Christian to live for Christ. Whoever lives for Jesus, their death will most assuredly be gain. To the carnal world, death is but a great loss indeed yet to the Christian, it is anything but. The dilemma Paul expressed in our verses for today demonstrate how he was torn between two blessings – living for Jesus or being with Him. He realized his labor would be fruitful if he remained in the body – winning souls for Christ as well as helping them grow up in their faith yet his great desire remained to be with Jesus. His inclination, he states, was for the latter and who could blame him considering all the persecution the apostle endured. It is not as if he were being carried to heaven on a bed of down. Indeed, trials and tribulations were the norm for Paul – few, if any, of our lives can compare. He writes to the Corinthians the following regarding his experiences:
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 2 Cor 11:16-29 (NIV)
Concern for others and not for himself weighed heavily upon the apostle. That is why in our verses for today that even though it would have been better for Paul to depart and be with Christ he was convinced that it was more necessary for them that he remain in the body. His service was not complete regarding the Father’s business. His perspective which, brought him much joy, was solely focused on doing God’s will. This kept him in perfect peace because his mind remained steadfast on Christ and not on his circumstances. He knew what God allowed was for his good and for God’s glory and he refused to get bogged down by fixing his eyes on what was seen. He not only knew for certain the goodness of God, he also grasped he was unfathomably loved. He writes in Romans:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
“The enemy of your soul only has two battle plans. 1. Blind you to who God is. 2. And blind you to who you are. God is unwaveringly good — and we are unfathomably loved. That slays demons.” Ann Voskamp
“God is a kind Father. He sets us all in the places where He wishes us to be employed; and that employment is truly ‘our Father’s business.’ He chooses work for every creature which will be delightful to them, if they do it simply and humbly. He gives us always strength enough, and sense enough, for what he want us to do; if we either tire ourselves or puzzle ourselves, it is our own fault. And we may always be sure, whatever we are doing, that we cannot be pleasing Him, if we are not happy ourselves.” J. Ruskin