Don’t Be A Stumbling Block: A Look at 2 Corinthians 6

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:21-6:2 NLT

Sense Paul’s urgency as he starts 2 Corinthians 6. Now is the time to make things right with God!

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. verses 3-4

As believers, every thing we do influences others and either points them toward God or causes them to stumble. So how do we avoid becoming a stumbling block?

We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. verses 4-6

When things go wrong and life gets hard, the world is watching to see how we respond. When the pressure is on, we must remain pure, our behavior giving evidence of the Holy Spirit within us. When our kindness and love remain intact, despite the way we are treated, we give the world nothing to stumble over.

We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. verse 7

Our lives become our voice, speaking volumes about the God we serve. Our righteousness becomes the weapon that cuts through the world’s unbelief and states our case.

We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. verses 8-9

And what is the result of living this way?

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. verse 10

That’s a great return for choosing to act and react righteously in every situation! Now take note of Paul’s deep desire to help these Corinthian believers keep their faith from being shipwrecked, as he wraps up this chapter.

Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us! Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. verses 11-16

When we start mixing righteousness with wickedness and light with darkness, we are in danger of becoming a stumbling block. As the temple of the living God, we must remain pure. Our words and our actions must always reflect the Spirit that lives within us.

As God said: