“Commending Ourselves As Servants Of God”

by Chris Simmons

A theme of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was his defense to those who attempted to discredit his work in the cause of Christ and his credentials as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 3:1-2, “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men” (cf. II Corinthians 12:11). The impact of Paul’s preaching of the gospel upon the hearts of the Christians in Corinth (and elsewhere) was all the commendation Paul needed. In the next chapter, Paul wrote in II Corinthians 4:1-2, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” Paul said in essence, “I’ll let my work speak for itself.”

Commending ourselves as servants of God doesn’t happen by comparing ourselves to any other person. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 10:12, “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.” To have the commendation of men is pointless; the commendation must come from God even as Paul wrote later in the same context (verse 18), “For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.” We commend ourselves as servants of God when His word is humbly received in our hearts and it truly changes who we are and how we live. In speaking of the repentance demonstrated by the brethren in Corinth following Paul’s first letter to them, Paul wrote in II Corinthians 7:11 that “in everything you demonstrated (commended) yourselves to be innocent in the matter.”

The word “commendation” is from the Greek word sunistao which Thayer defines as, “to recommend, to commend, to give approval to; to show, to prove, to demonstrate.” Paul didn’t seek his approval, recommendation or proof from human sources but demonstrated his approval by his bold and truthful presentation of the gospel.

Not only was Paul commended by his presentation of the gospel, but also by the circumstances in which he continued to faithfully preach the message of truth. In II Corinthians 6:3-7 Paul wrote, “Giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left.” Paul’s approval and commendation of a child of God and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ was powerfully demonstrated by his commitment to his ministry during some most difficult times.

Likewise, our approval as servants of God doesn’t come during days of ease and peace but during times of “afflictions” and “hardships.” It’s demonstrated by our “endurance” (note the context of Hebrews 10:32-39) during times of “sufferings … reproaches and tribulations.” Peter wrote in I Peter 2:19-20, “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” We are commended as servants of God when we suffer for the sake of righteousness and don’t “shrink back.” It’s interesting to note that in II Corinthians 6, that the word “afflictions” literally means “a pressing, pressing together, pressure” (Thayer). The idea of “hardships” is to be in dire straits imposed by the opposition while “distresses” carries the idea of being forced into a narrow place by others and feeling as though the walls are closing in on you. Finally, “tumults” (note James 3:16) is an interesting word which means “instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion” (Thayer). As Christians today, perhaps we feel the pressure of being in dire straits, as all around we see disorder, disturbances, and confusion. It is in times like this that we truly commend ourselves as servants of God through our faithful endurance.

Our approval as children of God and servants of Jesus Christ is not only demonstrated by persistence in running the race in the face of hardships, but by our manifestation of such qualities as: “purity … knowledge … patience … kindness … love” and our fellowship with “the Holy Spirit … in the word of truth.” Today, our adversary is seeking to: compromise our moral and doctrinal purity, turn our attention from the knowledge of God’s will to secular and human causes, try our patience (makrothumia, “the self-restraint which does not hastily retaliate a wrong with those who oppose us,” Thayer), take away our kindness, and cause our love to grow cold. Now, more than ever, servants of God are to be commended by their: respect for the “word of truth,” faith in the “power of God,” and trust in “the weapons of righteousness” (cf. II Corinthians 10:3-5).

Paul wrote in II Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved (“proving by demonstration,” Vine) to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” Paul’s point is simple yet profound. Our approval and commendation as servants of God comes through how we respond to the difficult and troubling times we are facing. Will we demonstrate or commend ourselves as servants of our Lord and Savior, (who commended Himself to His Father by going to the cross) through our endurance, diligence, faithfulness, and service during our difficult and trying times?