It Starts Small

We come to the close of chapter 4. Paul is challenging us to have an external perspective.

¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴ For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you. ¹⁵ Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4:13-15

Since we have the same spirit of faith

The spirit of faith is not the Holy Spirit. It is an attitude of faith. Paul had the same kind of faith as the one who wrote “I believe, and so I spoke.”

¹⁰ I believed, even when I said,
“I am severely oppressed.”

Psalm 116:10

This is quoted from Psalm 116:10 in the Greek Septuagint.

We believe so we speak

2 Corinthians is an incredibly heartfelt letter, pulsating with Paul’s emotions. In this passionate correspondence, he fervently defends himself to the Corinthians. He reveals a fierce determination to counter the slanderous attacks from a band of false teachers. These deceitful individuals aimed to undermine Paul, hoping to lead his beloved flock astray. In a powerful and raw response, Paul lays bare his innermost motivations, igniting a deeper understanding of his actions. He desperately wants them to understand his intentions. Everything he does flows from his profound relationship with Jesus. He genuinely and unwaveringly cares for them.

And here we see that like the psalmist before him, it was Paul’s belief which caused him to speak. He had no ulterior motives. Paul was not peddling the gospel. All the ministry he did was a direct result of his firm faith in and relationship with Jesus. Speaking out was like a compulsion. He had to do it.

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach—and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:16

Thus Paul’s faith was a living faith. His belief in God changed his actions, his speech, and in fact everything about his life.

How does your belief in Jesus affect your daily life?

What we can learn from Paul’s vulnerability is profound: if we truly believe in Jesus, we must passionately proclaim the gospel! The Bible unequivocally tells us that every individual faces a monumental choice between two destinies—heaven or hell. Each person will inhabit one of these eternal realms. Their decision to follow Jesus here on earth determines their fate. Do you believe this with all your heart? Then woe to us if we remain silent! Many individuals hold back, failing to share their faith, simply because, deep down, they might not truly believe it. Perhaps they cling to the illusion of second chances after death. Maybe attending church has become a mere tradition for them. For these souls, their faith is dead! However, if our faith is vibrant, it is alive. Like Paul, we will feel an urgent compulsion to share it with the world around us. Our family members and friends desperately need to hear the transformative power of the gospel. If you genuinely believe it, don’t hesitate—speak it boldly to them!

 ¹⁴ For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you. 

2 Corinthians 4:14

Jesus’ resurrection is a reminder of our future resurrection one day. That resurrection to glory and being with Jesus forever is what we hope for. God raised Jesus from the dead as the first fruits of our eventual resurrection.

When someone receives good news, their heart swells with joy, compelling them to share that joy with the world. In the same spirit, we have exhilarating news to proclaim! Let us boldly express it, spreading the word far and wide. We are invited to this magnificent eternal celebration with our Lord. We also have the power to invite others. They can join our joyous gathering. Together, we can unite with even more souls! So let’s fervently distribute as many invitations as possible while we have the chance; the time for celebration is now!

As grace extends to more people it may increase thanksgiving

God has made an investment in our lives. He has graciously given us His own Son. Normally when someone makes an investment they hope to have a return on that investment. God wants to see us with hearts full of thanksgiving and mouths which express that gratitude.

Not everyone responds to acts of kindness with genuine gratitude. Take the story of Jesus healing ten lepers, where only one returned to express his thanks. This stark reality highlights the pervasive sin of ingratitude that afflicts our world. We’ve all encountered ungrateful individuals; oftentimes, it seems that the more we give, the more entitled they become. Many people treat kindness as if it’s their birthright, overlooking the profound generosity behind it. Such attitudes are deeply damaging. When our heartfelt gestures are met with indifference, we start feeling reluctant. This reluctance prevents us from extending our hands in kindness again.

⁶ Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.

Matthew 7:6

Jesus passionately warned His disciples against the folly of “casting pearls before swine.” Why, you ask? Because swine will never cherish pearls; instead, they will trample them underfoot. If we respond to God’s boundless grace with the indifference of swine, we risk losing the opportunity. We could miss out on receiving even more of His divine gifts. And this is a profound truth. God generously pours out His common grace—manifested through the warmth of sunshine and the nourishment of rain—upon the entire world. Only those who sincerely seek Him out will experience its abundant flow. They must earnestly request His grace.

Paul is telling us to be thankful. Let thanksgiving become a lifestyle to you. Throughout the day, make it a habit to thank God. Appreciate the small acts of kindness He shows to you. Notice a flower blooming, a bird chirping, or a laugh with a friend. And as we are more thankful to God, we will become more thankful to others as well.

All of this is for the glory of God

God gives us grace also for His own glory. When He shows kindness to us and we respond with thanksgiving, God is glorified. When God is glorified the world is in proper balance, exactly as it should be.

Paul continues and tells us an external perspective helps us to not lose heart.

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Cross References:

• Romans 1:17
• 2 Corinthians 5:7
• 1 Peter 1:3
• 1 Thessalonians 4:14
• Psalm 107:1
• Ephesians 5:20

Reflective Questions

• What is the spirit of faith Paul mentions in verse 13?
• He has the same spirit of faith as who?
• What is the relationship between believing and speaking?
• What does Paul know according to verse 14?
• How does this motivate Paul? What does this motivate him to do?
• How does it effect you to know that you will be raised with Jesus?
• What was the purpose of their ministry?
• How you are thankful for God’s grace in your own life?

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¹⁶ Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ¹⁸ So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Though our outer self is wasting away

Their earthly bodies were in the throes of decay. This was, in part, the inevitable march of time. It served as a cruel reminder. No matter the dedication to fitness and the avoidance of temptations, the body will ultimately surrender. Aging relentlessly wore them down. Additionally, Paul and his courageous team confronted unyielding persecution at every turn. Beatings, whippings, and unjust imprisonment were their grim companions. They traversed through the harshest conditions. Each step was a battle against despair. These trials took a grueling toll on their physical forms. They served as a poignant reminder that their outer selves were indeed diminishing. Yet, their spirits roared defiantly against the fading flesh.

Our inner self is being renewed day by day

The inner self refers to the soul, the essence of a person. While the body may decay, the soul should be growing in sanctification, holiness, and maturity. The prime of life physically is 20-35 or so. After that a slow downward decline begins. But spiritually it should be continual upward growth.

How can you be renewed? What practical steps can you take to speed up this process?

So we do not lose heart

Knowing all of these vital truths ignites a fire in Paul and his team, preventing them from losing heart. They embrace the powerful concepts of resurrection, entering into His glorious presence, and the constant renewal of their spirits. Focusing solely on their physical afflictions could easily lead them astray. Instead, they lift their eyes to the eternal perspective. This fills them with unwavering courage to press on and fulfill their extraordinary calling.

This light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory

In comparison to what others go through, Paul’s affliction was anything but light (2 Corinthians 11). But in comparison to the rewards of an eternity in the glory of Christ’s presence, they were light indeed.

How can we understand this logic?

If you endured a day of hard manual labor in very unpleasant conditions for a dime, you would feel very ill treated. The work would seem harsh and painful. But if you received 100 million dollars for this same day of hard manual labor, you would think differently. Those same afflictions would seem quite light compared to the reward you received for your work. Time would pass much slower if you knew you only received a dime. Your attitude would likely be much worse. As we will discuss more in the next verse, it is important to have an eternal perspective. This is especially true in the face of adversity.

Take time to write down specific ways that afflictions can help your inner spirit be renewed and prepare you for eternity?

The afflictions that Paul faced and that we face he says have a purpose. They prepare us for eternity. God uses these afflictions to shape our character and strengthen our faith and dependence upon Him.

³ And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, ⁴ endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Afflictions help us to fix our eyes on Jesus. They help us take our eyes off of this world (because it doesn’t satisfy) and focus on Jesus. They remind us to place our hope in Him and not in this world. Adversity decreases our attachment to this world and increases our attachment to Jesus.

Have an eternal perspective

The key theme which we see throughout this passage is reinforced clearly in verse 18.

 ¹⁸ So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

We are to look at the things unseen rather than the things seen. The things we see are temporary. Your house, bed, furniture, car, money, and materials are all temporary. Your bodies are temporary. The most beautiful landmarks in the world will all be gone. In fact every single thing which you see will be destroyed one day.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.

2 Peter 3:10

The materials in this world are “transient.” Most people spend all their life thinking of these temporary things. They gaze at them and work to get them. Even believers find it difficult to focus on the spiritual rather than the physical. It is challenging to concentrate on the eternal rather than the temporary.

Why is it so difficult for us to have an eternal perspective? How can we better focus on the things which are unseen?

In stark contrast, the truly vital aspects of life are those that escape our physical senses. God, the magnificent spirit, dwells in the realm of the unseen. Our souls embody this essence of spirit and invisibility. The souls of our cherished ones remain beyond our sight. We must fervently train our spiritual eyes to focus on the profound and eternal. We awaken to the reality of the eternal by meditating on God. We contemplate His wondrous attributes and the sacred bond we share with Him. Let us passionately remind ourselves that the tangible possessions we can see, touch, and purchase are mere illusions. They are fleeting. However, the treasures of the spirit endure forever.

⁴ Don’t wear yourself out to get rich;
because you know better, stop!

Proverbs 23:4

Riches don’t last so don’t focus on it. Pleasure and entertainment, position and worldly recognition are all temporary. What is eternal? God. God is I AM. He exists forever from eternity past to eternity future. Therefore He is more important than anything else. And He has made our souls to be eternal. Because they are eternal, their value is priceless. Let us invest in our spiritual well-being instead of our earthly possessions. Doing so is a far better investment.

How will having an eternal perspective change how you live now?

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Cross References:

• Psalm 31:24
• Romans 12:12
• Isaiah 41:10 Colossians 3:2 – Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
• Proverbs 14:12
• 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Romans 8:18

Reflective Questions:

• How do the things Paul just wrote encourage him not to lose heart?
• What is the outer self?
• What is the inner self
• How were their outer selves wasting away?
• How were their inner selves being renewed day by day?
• What are some light momentary afflictions that you have faced?
• How did these afflictions help prepare you for eternity?
• What practical things can you do to keep an eternal perspective?
• What is the eternal weight of glory?
• How can you keep your eyes on the unseen?
• What are some examples of the “unseen” which you should focus on?

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