2 Corinthians 11:12 KJV
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut
off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may
be found even as we.
Though Paul could have asked for financial help from the church in Corinth he had refused to
do so.[1] Paul made the choice to do
as he had done so he might "cut off occasion" from his critics. It,
of course, did not prevent them from criticizing but it did take the teeth out
of their criticism.
Christians have had
and will always have critics and opponents. Those critics have often had some
reason for their criticisms; a kind of false Christianity has, historically,
acted very badly. But there have also always been those Christians who
have refused to give the critics just cause. They have lived:
- Humbly
- Honestly and
- With earnest integrity
They have never
been perfect as no man other than Christ ever has been, but they have been
honest about their faith.
We can do the same
if we choose. We can determine by God's grace to so live out our faith as to
leave the critic with little or no ammunition. We can do this by humble
obedience to the Word of God.
[1]
Thank
God for other believers who cared enough for his work to provide for him so he
did not have to.
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