2 Corinthians 11:16-33
These attacks against Paul’s ministry are an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to give us a clearer idea of his labours and sufferings. Yes, he was a minister of Christ and can draw up the proofs of the fact: a long list of sufferings endured for the Gospel. These vv. 23-28, 31, 32 give the details of what the apostle called in 2 Corinthians 4:17 his "light affliction which is but for a moment"! But what was the divine resource which sustained him so that he could bear these exceptional things? "An eternal weight of glory" was constantly in his thoughts: Christ in glory, his eternal reward. Dear friends, let us hold on to this secret: the more we shall be taken up with the Lord, the less time we shall have to think about our tiny difficulties – and what are they compared with the trials of the great apostle?
The more weight His eternal love will carry on the scales of our hearts, the less we shall attach importance to the events of time and be overwhelmed by them. However, there is one thing which can never come upon us too much: "the care of all the churches" (v. 28). In the first place that care is shown through prayer. May the Lord give us love for His dear Church and for everyone of its members.