2 Corinthians 3:1-5 - “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

[2] Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: [3] Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

[4] And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

[5] Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

In his second epistle to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul expresses his profound sense of relief and joy that the Corinthians had received his "severe" letter (which is now lost) in a positive manner. That particular letter addressed a myriad of pressing issues that were tearing the church apart, primarily the arrival of self-styled (false) apostles who were relentlessly assaulting Paul's character, sowing discord among the believers, and teaching false and misleading doctrine.

It was a time of great turmoil and confusion, and Paul felt compelled to address these issues head-on to preserve the integrity of the church and to ensure that the true Gospel message would continue to be preached and received.

They have questioned his integrity, his speaking ability, and his unwillingness to accept support from the church at Corinth. Some people in Corinth had not repented of their licentious behavior, another reason he had sent the “severe” letter.

Paul was filled with joy when he heard from Titus that most Corinthians had repented their rebellion against him. Paul expressed his genuine love and gratitude towards them for their step towards righteousness.

Additionally, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to continue collecting offerings for people with low incomes in chapters 8 to 9 and to take a firm stand against false teachers in chapters 10 to 13. He also defended his apostleship, as some in the church had doubts about his authority. Overall, Paul's message was one of hope and encouragement, urging the Corinthians to pursue righteousness and unity.

This letter is the most biographical and least doctrinal of Paul’s epistles. It tells us more about Paul as a person and as a minister than any of the others. That being said, there are a few things we can take from this letter and apply to our lives today. One thing is stewardship, not only of money but of time.

The Macedonians not only gave generously but “they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will” (2 Corinthians 8:5). In the same way, we should dedicate not only all we have to the Lord but all that we are. He doesn’t need our money. He wants the heart, one that longs to serve and please and love.

Stewardship and giving to God is more than just money. Yes, God does want us to tithe part of our income, and He promises to bless us when we give to Him. There is more, though. God wants 100%. He wants us to provide him with our all.

We should spend our lives living to serve our Father. We should not only give to God from our paycheck, but our very lives should be a reflection of Him. We should give ourselves first to the Lord, then to the church, and the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Our Prayer for today:

“You have blessed us with an incredible sufficiency, Lord, yet too often, we fail to recognize it. Rather than depending on the world, we can only trust Your precious promises to provide everything we need. Help us to express the faith You have given us by being faithful in service. May we always depend on You and acknowledge You as the source of all our needs. In Jesus' name, Amen.”