Worldview Finder: Morality
February 7, 2024 at 3:49 pm | Posted in good and bad, Worldview Finder | 2 CommentsTags: 1 Kings 3, 1 Timothy 4, 2 Corinthians 5, Isaiah 5, Leviticus 27, Mark 10, Proverbs 17, Psalm 143, Psalm 73, Romans 7
After understanding that objective truth exists, and that some truth can truly be known, the next step in identifying or clarifying your worldview is to determine whether you believe that there are objective categories for good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, justice and injustice.
We are not talking here about mere personal preferences, although we do call some things “good” or “bad” based on tastes or preferences. Some things may be thought of as “amoral.” They don’t have any objective “worth” or “value” or “merit” other than what we subjectively assign to them, but the question we are asking here seeks to know whether you view some things or some acts or some ideas or some beings as INTRINSICALLY good or evil.
The Bible resolves this question. We like to say that God is “good.” A popular slogan among Christians is: “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.”
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
Psalm 73:1
But what does it mean in this context to say that “God is good?” Psalm 73:1 is talking about His beneficence or benevolence: His attribute of being kind and gracious and even loving toward others. This kind of “good” means doing good TO someone in the sense that they perceive what He is doing to them to be a help or a benefit.
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
I Timothy 4:4
If “every creature” of God is “good,” does this mean that Hitler and Osama Bin Laden were good? Or that Satan is good? Or that you and I, apart from God’s grace, are inherently morally good? No it doesn’t. In fact, we not only need to be forgiven for our SINS – we need to be forgiven for being SINNERS. Good, in the context of I Timothy 4:4, means that food – even if it might not be the healthiest or the cleanest – and even if was condemned as religiously or ceremonially unclean under the Old Covenant – and even if it might have been used in some pagan ritual before being sold in the market – is made “good to eat” (sanctified, made clean) by the Word of God and prayer.
So, we see that God – and some things – can be said to be subjectively “good” in their benefits or their actions. God is good, though, in another sense. He is INTRINSICALLY good, as an immutable attribute, in His nature.
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Psalm 143:10
This is the goodness that goes beyond mere kindness and benevolence. It is goodness in the sense of righteousness and holiness and perfection of moral character.
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mark 10:18
This is part of Jesus’s discussion with the so-called rich young ruler, and the topic is not who does charity and who is nice to his neighbors. It is who or what is moral goodness. Keeping the commandments of God (if anyone could do it) would demonstrate someone was “good,” because they are God’s commandments, and they come from the essence of God Himself, so this question is not talking about “good” in the way we talk about “good”-tasting food. It is talking about “goodness” in the moral sense.
A popular holiday song says, “You’d better be good for ‘goodness’s sake,’” but there’s no being called “Goodness,” so you can’t do anything for its sake. Jesus was good for God the Father’s sake and for His own sake.
Now, if we believe that God is good – truly good in and of Himself – it stands to reason that, yes, we do believe there is at least SOMETHING in the universe that is good and therefore is not evil, but let’s determine if the Bible describes this belief in terms of a worldview.
Consider Solomon’s prayer for wisdom – the wisdom to rule people in a way that would be pleasing to God:
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
I Kings 3:9
Solomon, taking on the responsibility of an earthly judge, knew he needed the wisdom of the Heavenly Judge, and judges are supposed to do justice: reward or vindicate righteousness and punish evil. They are supposed to look at actions and make moral evaluations based on a true standard of what’s good and what’s bad. Even the Old Testament ceremonial laws made distinctions based on a standard:
And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be.
Leviticus 27:12
The standard was: according to God’s Word.
So, the Bible clearly takes the worldview-position that God is inherently good AND that He sets the standard for determining what is good and bad.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
II Corinthians 5:10
While things may be morally neutral, actions are not – according to God’s standard (which goes beyond the action itself to the thoughts behind it, the attitude of the heart about it, and motivation for it). Ever since the appearance of the serpent in the Garden of Eden this aspect of a Biblical worldview – objective right and wrong/good and evil – has been opposed by an alternate worldview: Nihilism.
Nihilism is the idea that “right” and “wrong” are amorphous or relative or subjective, which really means that they are non-existent. It is a worldview which denies the existence of morality, and says that nothing really matters. Because sinful human beings are so prone to adopt it and espouse it – and to try to (disastrously) live as though it were true – the Bible frequently addresses it. It is impossible to consistently believe that no actions have more or less moral value than others.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Proverbs 17:13
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.
Proverbs 17:15
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Romans 7:21
A Good Story about a Bad Man
December 5, 2019 at 2:45 pm | Posted in good and bad, Luke | 3 CommentsTags: Christians and money, commentary on Luke, Luke 16, money, parable of the dishonest steward, parable of the unfaithful servant, parable of the unfaithful steward, parable of the unjust servant, parable of the unjust steward, Sunday School lessons on Luke
While Jesus’s parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15, is one of the easier parables to understand in terms of spiritual truth, the parable which begins Luke 16 is one of the more difficult.
And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
Luke 16:1-3
The attitude of the dishonest steward is the attitude of a thief: “What’s yours is mine, and I’ll take it.” Compare that attitude with the attitude of a selfish person: “What’s mine is mine, and I’ll keep it.” These both stand in contrast with the attitude of a faithful and wise steward: “What’s mine is God’s, and I’ll share it.”
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
What is our greatest treasure? It’s Christ and His Gospel. Treasure, according to the Bible, is to be protected and invested.
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
I Thessalonians 2:4
If we think of life as a sporting contest, Christians are supposed to be the “players,” not the “scorekeepers.”
I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
Luke 16:4-7
The point of this parable is not to justify the steward’s actions as righteous or moral or ethical. What he did was clearly dishonest and deceitful, despite the pragmatic result that he probably DID collect more of his boss’s debts with that method. From a worldly, common sense perspective, it was the “smart” thing to do.
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Luke 16:8-9
Jesus was not encouraging fraud, dishonesty, or mismanagement. He was making an argument from the lesser to the greater. We can learn from both good AND bad examples. From this story of an unfaithful steward, we can learn to:
1. Take advantage of our opportunities
2. See money or material wealth as a tool
3. Make friends by reaching out to others
At the same time we can learn NOT to:
1. Waste our opportunities
2. Worship money or material wealth (Make money serve you; don’t serve it.)
3. Forget to be faithful to God and the opportunities we already have
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Luke 16:10
Luke 16:10 is the first verse that my first daughter ever memorized. It is a good principle for children.
Take the Good with the Bad
May 23, 2017 at 1:25 pm | Posted in Common Expressions, good and bad, II Corinthians | 7 CommentsTags: 2 Corinthians 5, Bema Seat, common expressions, common expressions in the Bible, Final Judgment, good news and bad news, Great Assize, Jesus Christ, Judgment Seat of Christ, the Gospel
It is commonly said that we often have to “take the good with the bad,” meaning that some things are so enjoyable, that, while they are not perfect or ideal, they are still worth the trouble that comes with them.
Most people certainly do NOT enjoy being painfully injected with a vaccine, but they are willing to put up with it in exchange for crossing some deadly disease off their list of concerns. I abhor waiting a long time outside a restaurant for a table to become available, but I am willing to endure it if the food is delicious enough when it is finally served to me.
Biblically speaking, we find this principle having various applications, one of which is:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
II Corinthians 10:5 (emphasis added)
This is what some theologians have called “The Great Assize,” more commonly referred to as “The Final Judgment.” One day (and it could be today!), after Christ has returned to this world to claim His rightful ownership of it, and to assert His absolute authority over it, all the people who have ever lived will stand before Him in some sort of judgment. For Christians, whose sins have been forgiven, the judgment seat of Christ will be a place where our works, words, thoughts, and motives are judged. There will be rewards and there will be loss of rewards. For non-Christians, there will be a Great White Throne Judgment. There, sins WILL be judged. The Book of Life will be opened, and those who have not trusted Christ unto salvation will find that their names are not therein written, and they will be cast into the lake of fire forever.
So, while different judgments will occur for the two most important categories of people – saved vs. lost; born again vs. born once; saints vs. sinners; children of God vs. enemies of God; Christians vs. non-Christians; true believers vs. unbelievers; sheep vs. goats; wheat vs. tares; justified vs. unjustified – it is still true that everyone will be judged in some sense according to the things he or she has done during his or her earthly life.
This should be a powerfully bracing reminder to us that what we do each and every moment of our lives MATTERS. God is watching. He is keeping records. He sees our most secret deeds, hears all our words, and even knows our deepest, darkest, and dearest thoughts. We will truly, one day (much, much sooner than we think), take the good with the bad, and, let’s face it, as good as we think our good might be, our bad would far outweigh it on the scales of God’s perfect divine justice.
This is why it is vitally important to have an “alien” good (meaning a “goodness” or “righteousness” that comes from somewhere outside of ourselves) imputed to our account, and just as vitally important that our “bad” gets fully removed by someone who could pay the price for it in our stead. That’s where our Heavenly Advocate comes in. Only Christ can accomplish both of these gargantuan and eternal tasks for us.
When we have to cushion the blow of some disturbing information, we sometimes ask the recipient of the information, “I have bad news and I have good news: Which do you want to hear first?” You’ve already heard the bad news: All people come into this world condemned before God Almighty, the Judge of all the earth. Now, please, hear the Good News: Christ will remove your condemnation, pardon your crimes, justify you before the Judge, and give you eternal life, if you will believe, repent, turn to Him in faith, and ask Him to rescue you.
Good Timing
May 31, 2012 at 11:27 am | Posted in Ecclesiastes, good and bad | 8 CommentsTags: a time to heal, a time to kill, commentary on Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 3, God's purposes, God's timing, Sunday School lessons on Ecclesiastes, The Byrds
This passage from Ecclesiastes is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible. A group called The Byrds even used it in a hit song.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Does the Bible really sanction “a time to kill?” Some examples would be just warfare, a husband defending his wife, a parent defending his or her children, and self-defense.
There is “a time to heal” physically and emotionally. Forgiveness is the remedy for healing broken relationships.
What is the “time to break down?” We are supposed to be breaking down the enemy’s strong holds, even as God’s Spirit breaks our own pride.
There is “a time to build up” and this might happen when you edify your fellow Sunday School members, when you minister in the love of Christ, when you offer encouragement to someone who is working hard, when we engage in grief counseling or marriage counseling, just to name a few.
We know there is “a time to weep.” Sometimes we weep for joy, sometimes for grief. Sometimes we weep in repentance over sin. And there is “a time to laugh.” (When your Sunday School teacher tells a joke, go ahead and laugh even if it’s a lame joke – it will make him feel better.)
There is “a time to cast away stones.” This can be literal – as in the clearing of land for farming or building – or it can be figurative. We “cast away the stones” we were about to use to throw at someone in condemnation, and instead decide to show grace and mercy. There is “a time to gather stones together” when we are building, or, at times, we participate in the government-sanctioned execution of justice.
There is “a time to embrace:” Married couples should do this a lot! And there is “a time to refrain from embracing:” There should not be any romantic or sexual embracing outside of marriage!
There is “a time to get” (payday), and “a time to lose” (bill paying day).
There is “a time to keep” (saving something valuable), and “a time to cast away” (hoarding).
Sometimes it is “time to rend:” to tear something apart. Sometimes it is “time to sew:” to mend that which has been torn.
All those things are from God – but they are to be done in His time and for His purpose.
I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
Ecclesiates 3:17
God Is Real, God Is Good, and God Is REALLY GOOD!
February 14, 2011 at 10:24 am | Posted in Biblical Marriage, good and bad, Uncategorized | 18 CommentsTags: God's benevolence, God's goodness, Godly wife, marriage, Pastor John Wilkerson, practical proof of God's existence, professing atheists, Proverbs 31, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day devotions
I sometimes have encounters with professing atheists. Most of them would call these encounters “debates” or “arguments,” but that’s not really what they are. What is really going on is that I’m just revealing the truth of God’s Word and they are trying to suppress it, reject it, rage against it, or pretend it isn’t real. Since the Bible is the source of Absolute Truth in this world, I believe it is important to use it when confronting someone who is pretending not to believe in God.
However, I do have another practical proof of the existence of God: my wife. If you knew me and knew what an awful jerk I can sometimes be (and often am) – and, if you knew my wife and how absolutely beautiful and wonderful and intelligent and wise and witty and spiritually mature she is, there is simply no explanation for why she would be married to me, other than: There is a God Who is all-powerful, and Who is loving and kind and sovereign and GOOD to me.
My wife is the epitome of what the Bible says a wife and mother should be. She loves God and His Word, and she is a constant source of encouragement to me, our children, her friends, and our church family. Some people jokingly call her “Proverbs 31 Woman” as a nickname, but if they knew her like I do, they would see that it’s not really that much of a joke. Proverbs 31 is actually a pretty good description of her!
I know a preacher who used to say that sometimes he felt like “God’s spoiled brat,” and I thought that sounded strange because we are not supposed to respond to God’s grace like over-indulged children. However, I don’t know a better way to put it myself! Hopefully, I don’t act like a spoiled brat, but I sure do feel like one when I think that, not only did God save me from hell, sin, death, the grave, Satan, and God’s wrath, all of which I richly deserved – as if that wasn’t enough, He then turned around and gave me the greatest wife in the world – and then, overwhelming me with His goodness, mercy, and grace, He blessed me with three [update: now four] wonderful daughters!
It’s been two years since I tried to celebrate Valentine’s Day by posting a poem about my wife. I thought it would be more thoughtful than a Hallmark card. Here’s a helpful hint: If you stink at writing poetry as bad as I do, stick to the Hallmark! However, I do want to tell my wife – in case she reads this – that I love her more than even a good poem could have expressed. Aside from the Lord’s salvation and the richness and joy and peace of knowing God in Christ Jesus my Lord, she is the greatest gift that God ever gave me.
That’s Good. No, that’s Bad.
December 22, 2010 at 10:47 am | Posted in Biblical friendship, Genesis, good and bad | 14 CommentsTags: Christ in Genesis, commentary on Genesis, Ephesians 4, Genesis 45, God's infallibility, Hebrews 13, Matthew 6, Proverbs 18, Romans 8, Sunday School lessons on Genesis
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
Genesis 45:1
Opinions are a lot like armpits. Everybody has them, and most of them smell pretty bad. Scripture, however, is where we find God’s opinion. I like to hear the opinions of people who have the same opinion as God. God is always right. If I want to be right I must agree with God. God’s opinion of reading and studying my Bible? It’s the right thing to do. God’s opinion on shoplifting? It’s wrong. God’s opinion on praying? It’s right. God’s opinion on fornicating? It’s wrong. God’s opinion on worshiping God every day and giving Him praise? It’s right.
I used to have a children’s book that I can’t remember the name of, but its premise was, “that’s good – no, that’s bad.” It went something like this: “My mom got me some ice cream.”
“That’s good.”
“No, that’s bad… because it melted on my favorite shirt.”
“That’s bad.”
“No, that’s good, because I got a brand new shirt…” And so on.
This can help us review the life of Joseph.
As a teenaged child Joseph’s father, Jacob, gives him a beautiful coat – that’s good.
No, that’s bad, because it makes his brothers insanely jealous, and they start to plot against him – that’s bad.
No, that’s good, because his brother Reuben intervenes, and talks the other brothers out of killing him – that’s good.
No, that’s bad, because they sell him into slavery instead – that’s bad.
No, that’s good, because he winds up in Egypt, where he gets put in charge of Potiphar’s household – that’s good.
No, that’s bad, because Potiphar’s wife starts lusting after him, and tries to seduce him – that’s bad.
No, that’s good, because Joseph doesn’t give in to temptation, and he resists her advances – that’s good.
No, that’s bad, because she gets mad and falsely accuses him of trying to rape her, and gets him thrown into prison – that’s bad.
No, that’s good, because Joseph is still faithful in jail, and winds up with Pharaoh’s personal assistant owing him a big favor – that’s good.
No, that’s bad, because the king’s cupbearer completely forgets about Joseph when he is vindicated – that’s bad.
No, that’s good, because Joseph gets a chance to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams – that’s good.
No, that’s bad, because the dreams forecast a great famine coming to Egypt – that’s bad.
No, that’s good, because God has given Joseph the solution of being a good steward of the harvests, and Pharaoh trusts him with the job.
Therefore, Joseph is in a position to save not only his family, but also his entire nation.
Since we’ve been studying Joseph as an Old Testament type of Jesus, when we get to Genesis 45 we can also see Joseph’s brethren as type of New Testament Christians.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:14-17
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
If you are a Christian, the Lord Jesus is not only your Savior, Redeemer, Master, and Friend. He is also your Brother.
Let’s look at how Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. He cried, “Cause every man to go out from me.”
Has there been a time when Jesus wanted to talk to you alone? I hope there has. I hope you pray every day. We should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but don’t let church time be the only time you pray. Praying in public is good and right, but public prayer should by no means be our main time of prayer.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:5-6
Human beings develop friendships by talking – by communicating with each other. When the communication stops, the relationship suffers. How much more should we communicate every day with our Best Friend, Jesus Christ!
“And there stood no man with him.” No man stood with Jesus on the cross, no man came and took His part, no man argued for Him to be released. There will be times when you stand with Jesus – when you stand up for Jesus – that no man will stand with you. But you are not alone.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.”
In Scripture the “brethren” are born-again believers in the family of God, brothers and sisters in Christ. Hasn’t Jesus already made Himself “known” to us? He has, but we need to spend time with Him and get to know Him better. We have a tendency to act like who we hang around. If I spend time with Jesus, I’ll start to act like Him. Reading my Bible, praying, and ministering to others in His Name are all ways to get to know Him better.
Jospeh’s brethren, like Jesus’s brethren, had an emotional encounter when he made himself known to them.
First, there was weeping (Genesis 45:2). When we begin to inquire of the Lord, and He makes known to us how we have treated Him, will we find Him weeping? The Bible says that we can grieve the Spirit of God.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30
That should motivate us to spend time with the Lord every day – and to obey His Spirit – not to grieve Him.
Joseph’s brothers were troubled at his presence (Genesis 45:3). Why were they troubled? Were they ashamed? Afraid? Probably both. Are you troubled at the presence of your Brother, the Lord Jesus?
The Bad News and the Good News
September 23, 2009 at 11:40 am | Posted in good and bad, Salvation | 21 CommentsTags: Acts 4, altar calls, bad news, Christ alone, Ephesians 2, Jesus Christ, Salvation, salvation invitations, the Good News, the Gospel
Take a moment to consider the way you live your life. Do you find yourself trapped in the same sins day after day? Do you feel like you simply can not change? Are you truly miserable because of this condition? If so, there is some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that, even though you may be able to walk, talk, breathe, and think, you are in fact spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). You are under the power of the devil and you have no choice but to obey his spirit, and to disobey God (Ephesians 2:2).
But here is the good news! You do not have to stay in this condition! God is rich in mercy and love, and He sent Someone to take your place, to pay the price for your sins, to set you free, and to give you eternal life.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 2:4-5
If you are tired of being defeated and miserable in your sins, admit the truth about yourself to God and call upon Jesus Christ right now to save you, believing the truth about Who He is and what He has done.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
The Deep End 
The Good, the Bad, and the Godly
October 11, 2021 at 2:19 pm | Posted in good and bad, II Corinthians | 4 CommentsTags: 2 Corinthians 6, Apostle Paul, Biblical tears, Christian paradoxes, commentary on 2 Corinthians, crying, Jesus Christ, Sunday School lessons on 2 Corinthians, the Christian life
Paul, in defending his Apostleship and the integrity of his ministry, was almost forced into the position of giving out a litany of everything he had been through and suffered in the cause of Christ. II Corinthians 6:8-10 is a list of antitheses about how Paul handled blessings and adversity with equanimity. These are also images of the way people might think of him, measured against the reality of who he was.
II Corinthians 6:8
There were times when he was “honored” – held in high regard by others – especially by those whom he had led to Christ; other times he was treated as vile by his enemies and the enemies of the Gospel, including his persecutors outside the Church and false teachers “within.” Sometimes he was spoken of in truth and had a good reputation; other times he was vilified and falsely accused and was the subject of lying gossip. Sometimes the evil report was for good things, and the good report was because of a false report about him. Paul and his fellow-ministers were called deceivers even though they spoke the truth, and sometimes their truth was accurately reported in order to get them in trouble. You will have a tough time as an honest, truth-proclaiming Christian guarding your reputation in a world where your message is hated. We can’t worry too much about what people think of us. Let’s concern ourselves with what God thinks of us.
These next antitheses focus more so on that view:
II Corinthians 6:9
You may be unknown as far as fame and celebrity, but well-known when you can be pointed to as a scandal. By being personally “unknown” we can make God “well-known.” For Paul, the “dying” was more literal. His life was in danger every day. For us, we need to focus on spiritually dying to self. That’s where we find our true, abundant “life.” Being “chastened” can mean being lovingly disciplined by God directly, or it can mean some difficult circumstance allowed by God for some greater good, such as opportunities to demonstrate perseverance in the faith, or the development of humility. You may have heard the worldly cliche’, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and there is an element of spiritual truth in this – in our sanctification and in our “endurance of hardness” when ministry is hard.
The next three antitheses were exemplified by Christ, and are our goals in becoming like Him.
II Corinthians 6:10
Joy will always be tinged with a little sadness this side of eternity, and, even in our moments of greatest sorrow, with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, we can experience some measure of joy in knowing the Lord and His over-arching plans for our ultimate victory in Him. We are not automatons – we will experience pain – but when we remember who we really are and Who we really serve, even our mourning turns to joy. This may be be one of the spiritual truths underlying the biological fact that human joy can easily produce tears. It reminds us that worldly joy is not the highest joy. Christ Himself was tearful and joyful at times.
Both Paul and Christ were poor in an earthly sense, but they brought great riches to others. Ancient monarchs were only generous out of a prideful desire to be known for it. But, as heirs of a great and bountiful inheritance of spiritual riches, we have nothing truly valuable that can be taken away, while, conversely and paradoxically, we have “all things” so that the world can not tempt us with a credible bribe.