2 Corinthians 6:8 –
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.
Welcome to the world of mission work! How often are we working to help people only to be looked down on or even talked poorly about? Sure the majority of people are gracious for the help, but there are always a few. Now does that mean we stop and move to the next need? Nope, our joy may be infectious and help that one person to realize the path to salvation. Also, not being “choosy” shine’s God’s light to others in the community. But I guess even then you get the “what about me” mentality, so it’s a difficult job either way.
Now don’t get me wrong, mission work is some of the most rewarding time you can spend, it’s just not always what you expect. Paul is making it clear that we need to just keep doing what we do and not worry about what others are saying. Don’t let the negative bring us down, nor the positive puff us up like proud peacocks. We just work and honor God first in all we do.
I can’t leave this chapter without touching on verse 14 where it talks about teaming up with unbelievers. This could go very deep on exactly what this means. We cannot live isolated from unbelievers and most of us have to work with them on a daily basis. Is Paul talking about marriage and close friendships? I have seen many “Christian” marriages melt down, just like mixed ones. The Greek more closely translates to being yoked with a unbelievers, like oxen working together.
The point here is when you are working towards one goal with God it’s easier to do so working with the same direction and strength. Be it on mission for God and helping disaster victims or in a marriage. If your motivation and drive is for the same purpose, life works much easier. One could question our marriage being that I was “saved” and Katy was not. At that same time I was so far away from God we were in essence on the same “wavelength”. Interestingly we both caught fire for God about the same time and we able to work together. Not saying all will be rosy, but in looking at an unbalanced plow team trying to cut a straight line you get the picture. Make it easy on yourself and surround yourself with other believers … hence why I was off track when we first got married.