Josh Hatcher's Blog

This passage might just seem like Paul is wrapping up his letter, saying his goodbyes so he can get lick the envelope and send it off... but there is a lot of insight here that we could learn from.

First notice that Paul encourages them to set aside a portion of their income to fund ministry. He's hoping that people will do it so they don't have to pass the plate.... (which indicates that people weren't giving to God's work as they should the last time he was there....) let's be sure to set aside a portion of our income to fund God's work here on earth...

Then Paul gives instructions for how they should respond to Timothy... He says that everyone should accept him... Timmy was a young preacher, and I have a feeling he was often rejected because of his age. (Reading through the letters Paul wrote to Timothy give me that opinion.)


Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14Do everything in love.


GREAT ADVICE for all of us in any day....

Then Paul gives them some more advice about people serving the Lord in Corinth.

15You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. 17I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

Paul tells them to "submit" to the people in their vicinity who are serving the Lord...

It's the same word that Paul uses to describe the relationship between husbands and wives in other passages...

The word submit carries the connotation of a pillar, or a support... Paul is saying that these men are honoring God, and encouraging the family of God, and they are doing what the others in Corinth aren't doing... refreshing people's spirits... and because of that, they deserve recognition, and as I interpret this, authority.

And to submit to authority doesn't just mean blind obedience... it implies support...

Are we pillars of support to the people in leadership above us?

I know. Just for the record... I'm not talking about myself, even though I am in church leadership.

I'm talking about the people that lead ministry over us... in my case, Pastor Mike, who is my cell group leader, and the other members of the "hub"... Do I support them with my words and actions?

Are we encouraging and refreshing and supportive to our cell group leaders? Our pastors? Or the other people that are in leadership?

We may not always agree... if we did, we would be very boring... differences in opinion can bring balance and harmony...

But we should always be supportive, even when we disagree.

It's something we've lost in our culture in general... as distrust of leadership has been a major tenet of "americanism" since the 60's.

We often disagree with those in authority over us, and we demand our rights.

We forget that our right is to disagree and voice that... in a civil and respectable manner...

Our responsibility is to submit to the authorities over us, even when we disagree, as long as it doesn't cause us to sin against our conscience.

Rights and Responsibility go hand in hand.

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