Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Remember What God Does Through You – Continued

Please read 2 Corinthians 1:4b-7 for background to this section.

God has to work in us before He can work through us. It is much easier for us to grow in knowledge than to grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18). Learning God’s truth and getting it into our heads is one thing, but living God’s truth and getting it into our character is quite something else. God put young Joseph through thirteen years of tribulation before He made him second ruler of Egypt, and what a great man Joseph turned out to be! God always prepares us for what He is preparing for us, and a part of that preparation is suffering.

In this light, 2 Corinthians 1:5 is very important: even our Lord Jesus Christ had to suffer! When we suffer in the will of God, we are sharing the sufferings of the Savior. This does not refer to His “vicarious sufferings” on the cross, for only He could die as a sinless substitute for us (1 Peter 2:21-25). Paul was referring here to “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10 NKJV), the trials that we endure because, like Christ, we are faithfully doing the Father’s will. This is suffering “for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10-12).

But as the sufferings increase, so does the supply of God’s grace. The word abound suggests the picture of a river overflowing. “But he gives more grace” (James 4:6). This is an important principle to grasp: God has ample grace for our every need, but He will not bestow it in advance. We come by faith to the throne of grace “that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). The Greek word used, means “help when you need it, timely help.”

Now we can better understand 2 Corinthians 1:9; for, if we could store up God’s grace for emergency use, we would be prone to trust ourselves and not “the God of all grace” (1 Peter 5:10). All the resources God gives us may be kept for future use, money, food, knowledge, etc., but the grace of God cannot be stored away.

Rather, as we experience the grace of God in our daily lives, it is invested into our lives as godly character (see again Romans 5:1-5). This investment pays dividends when new troubles come our way, for godly character enables us to endure tribulation to the glory of God.

There is a “companionship” or “fellowship” to suffering: it can draw us closer to Christ and to His people. However, if we start to wallow in self-pity, suffering will create isolation instead of involvement. We will build walls and not bridges. This is in part what it means to “die to self.”

The important thing is to fix your attention on God and not on yourself. Remember what God is to you, “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Remember what God does for you, that He is able to handle your trials and make them work out for your good and His glory. Finally, remember what God does through you, and let Him use you to be an encouragement and comfort to others.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary Volume 1.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
Where noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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