The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 17

There were special reasons why be should so think of himself; the office to which he was calico was special, for he was a commissioned apostle; and the manner in which he was called to that ofl1ce was marvellous, supernatural, and miraculous. But tbo piinciple contained in this languago applies to every Christian; whatever we arc whatever we do, we are, we do, by the will of God. ' I. Tms 1s EMPHATICALLY A CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE. Our Lord Jesus lived a life of conscious obediwce, for he came to do, not his own will, but the will of him who sent him: And he calls hi~ disciples to a like l\fe of subjection _to the Divine will, by his prec10us blood rerleemmg them from self-w11l and summonm"' them to rcco"'11ize 0 the will of God in their salvation. " II. THIS PRINCIPLE APPLIES TO THE OCCUPATION OF EVERY C1mISTIAN. This may not be easy for the fo)lower of Cl)r~st a~ once to see and believe. He looks back upo11 the time when be decided upon his busmess or professio11, and he remembers that he was guided to a large extent by his own tastes and interests and by the advice of friends. But reflection will assure him that Providence is discernible in very familiar and ordinary means. And the appoi11tment of God is to be observed, not only in the life of the statesman, the reformer, the missionary, but also in the life of the lowliest of Cbiist's disciples. It is not the scale upon which actions are performed that associates them with the Divine will, but the motive, the moral quality, the spiritual tendency. What is your calling? .Are you a servant, a mechanic, a tradesman, a lawyer, a surgeon a magistrate? In any case, if you are a Christian, and are in the path of duty, you ~re what you are, not simply through circumstances or through choice, but through the will of God. This principle has an obvious reference to spiritual work, for such is manifestly assigned by heavenly wisdom. The will of God calls the Christian labourer to witness, to work, and to endurance. III. Co!\SIDER WHAT Tms PRINCIPLE IMPLIES ON THE PART OF GoD. It implies that the great Creator and Lord of all is conscious of all the affairs of all his people. He is not merely interested in their affairs; he exercises his will with reference to them. His will is not arbitrary or tyrannical; it does not override our liberty, for it is in harmony with justice and with kindness. Yet it has a supreme moral authority. IV. CONSIDER WII.AT THIS PRINCIPLE IMPLIES ON OUR PART. 1. The belief that we are what and where we are by the will of God gives dignity and grandeur to our life. It exnlts the Divine will, yet it places us in a position of honour, as workers together with God. 2. It requires us daily to ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" and then to bring our actions into harmony with the Divine will. 3. It induces a habit of cheerfulness and content. If we are not just what and where our will would choose, be it remembered that our Father has appointed our lot. What joy and strength rnust come to him who is convinced that bis daily life ie assigned and regulated by the will of the Eternal and Supreme !-T. Vers. 4--7.-Comfort, Divine and human. Tho human heart is so sensitivo, and the human lot is so sorrowful, that it cannot excite surprise when it is found that religion lays great stress upon the provision for true and lasting comfort which Divino wisdom furnishes and offers to the pious. And whilst the consolations of friendship and of philosophy are superficial, those of Christianity go down to the depths 01 the nature and extend throughout the whole period of life. I. 'l'HE .SUPREME AUTHOR OF SPIRITUAL COMFORT. Instead of looking merely to the earthly streams, the apostle goes straight to the living Fountain. 1. The universal sufliciency of this Divine consolation. God ie the God of all comfort, and he comforts us in all our tribulation. For he is omniscient and knows all our sorrows: "He knoweth our frame; he rememhereth that wo are dust." He is infinitely sympathetic: "In all our afilictions he is afflicted." 2. Divine comfort abounds by Christ. Christ is all to his people. If, then, we share bis sufferings and benefit by thorn, the minis- tration of his consolatory grace ie enjoyed by ue who recog11ize him as upon the mediatorial throne. II. Tm,: MINISTER!! OF DIVl:'l'E COMFORT TO THEIR FELLOW-MEN, The apostle says of himself here what in a measure may be said of all true pastors. 1. 'l'bey are quali- fied for this office by their participation in those sorrows which are the common lot ol humanity, 2. By their experimental participation in the sufferings of the Redellmer. cH. 1.1-24.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHirlNS.