Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians
"In much patience..."
Text: 2 Corinthians 6:4
THE MARKS OF A GOOD SERVANT OF GOD I
Paul’s list of “the marks” of a good servant of God is truly impressive.
“In much patience, in tribulations, in needs,
in distresses,
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours,
in sleeplessness, in fastings.”
2 Corinthians 6:4b-5
1. This list was written from personal experience.
2. However, he is not suggesting that everyone needs to experience the same things!
a) “Much patience”
i) This word may also be translated “perseverance”.
ii) This word certainly carries the idea of “patience”.
b) “Tribulations”
i) Hard and harsh circumstances.
ii) Persecution was one of the tribulations experienced.
c) “In needs”
i) There were places and times when adequate support was not present.
ii) Thus, there were times when Paul suffered “needs”.
d) “In stripes, in imprisonments”
i) There were times when Paul and his fellow-labourers were jailed.
ii) Sometimes, they were also beaten by the local magistrates.
e) “In tumults”
i) There were occasions when mobs attacked Paul and his friends.
ii) These tumults were obviously distressful.
f) “In labours”
i) Paul was a pioneer.
ii) He was also an apostle to the Gentiles. He had to work very hard before he could speak of success in ministry.
g) “In sleeplessness”
Deep concern for the ministry often results in sleepless nights!
h) “In fastings”
There were occasions when prayer was accompanied by fasting.
Paul and his fellow-labourers had proven that they were indeed good and faithful servants of God!