Resilient Decisions Defined
What are resilient decisions? They are decisions, guided by God’s wisdom, which have lasting positive effects. You might ask, what is a non-resilient decision? Those are decisions, which seem good at the time, but flame out or have negative effects. For example, it might seem like a good idea to eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. After all, you had a hard week—you deserve it. But later that night … you will discover that decision LACKS resilience!
From a spiritual standpoint, a non-resilient decision would be embracing ungodly cultural narratives. Like the ice cream, it may seem good at the time but you will pay for it later. This was the danger facing the Corinthians—they wanted to be loved by the surrounding culture … and it influenced their decisions. God wants us laser focused on the Gospel. The last verse of 2nd Corinthians 5, famously, tells us the effect of God’s decision to send his son to die for us …
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)
That is the Gospel! He died in our place. He took our sin … we got his righteousness. Now … Paul appeals to us in 2 Corinthians 6. This is the heart of the letter. Paul spent 5 chapters presenting his credentials as a minister. Now … he is calling for a decision. Are you with me, or not? It is a make or break moment. Look at 6:1,
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (1 Corinthians 6:1, ESV)
“Working together with him” means Paul is focused on God’s objective, God’s mission. Notice, in chapter 5:20, Paul calls us ambassadors—God wants to make his appeal (to the world) through us. Now, in chapter 6, he makes an appeal to us.
He appeals to us so he can work through us. This is what David Wood was doing with Nabeel Qureshi. That word, “appeal,” can mean to strongly urge you. Paul is calling for a decision to follow Jesus and God’s call on the Corinthian’s lives. Which raising that question for us:
How do you make resilient DECISIONS? This section of scripture is filled with imperatives. I’ll offer four commands to keep our decisions resilient: (1) Go BIG! (2) Go LONG! (3) Go DEEP! (4) Stay TRUE! If we obey those commands, resilient decisions follow.
Go Big!
Resilient decisions cause us to GO BIG! For many—that is a scary thought. You might say, “Pastor Bob, I’m not a risk taker! I don’t need to go big … I’m happy going small.” Well taken. Going “big” is relative to the person. However, my point is this: we cannot be afraid of decisions requiring that we step out in faith … and trust God.
Are you buying a house (No matter the size)? At some level, you have to step out in faith and trust God.
Are you starting a business? Success is a NOT a guarantee, you have to step out in faith and trust God.
Are you getting married? You don’t know how that person will change over a lifetime … you have to trust God.
You want to have kids? Oh boy, do you need to trust God. And … Go Big—don’t be afraid of having more!
You want to go back to school? Go big, go bold … trust God if he is calling you!
Go big! Resilient decisions are often BOLD decisions that require total dependence on God. The opposite of going big is living in fear. Or taking matters into our own hands. In both scenarios, we are not trusting God. God’s involvement makes the decision resilient. It is amazing how many times we make decisions without even thinking to consult God. Let’s return to 6:1 …
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (1 Corinthians 6:1, ESV)
The word, “then,” signifies a major shift in the letter. He spent five chapters explaining himself. Now, he is taking it to the Corinthians: “Working together with him.” Someone say, “I working with God!” Louder! You know why so many of us have problems … we’re working alone. We need to work with God. The Greek word, synergountes, can be translated, “As God’s fellow workers.”[1] That is a BOLD statement. It is a Go Big statement. We are God’s people, called to accomplish God’s purposes. And what are his purposes? 5:20—be an ambassador. However, before you can be an ambassador, you have to COMMIT to the appeal made to you. You have to experience and receive the grace of God!
So… what does it mean to receive God’s grace in vain? That phrase means “without effect or result. Paul’s concern is that God’s grace will not have any meaningful impact on their lives.”[2] Additionally, the Greek grammar suggests there is a particular danger faced by the Corinthians. What is the danger? Circle the word, grace. This word produces well-being for the recipient. In this context, it is the unmerited favor of God, which comes through Jesus Christ. Does Paul think the Corinthians will lose their salvation? Let’s look at the next verse:
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV)
This quotation comes from Isaiah 49:8. In that context, the divine favor happens when God answers the prayers of his servants. In 2 Corinthians, Paul seems to be equating himself with the Isaiah servant. Which means, rejecting Paul and his teaching is equivalent to rejected God’s grace.[3] This is a proverbial, “come to Jesus moment.” Paul wants no distractions … he wants effective ministry that extends the Gospel.
We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, (2 Corinthians 6:3, ESV)
This is an evangelistic call right at the beginning of this section. Today … today … today … is the day of Salvation! Don’t wait … Go big! Make a decision. In the rest of the chapter, this is what Paul does: (1) In vv. 4-10 he defends the seemingly contradictory nature of his ministry. (2) The in vv. 11-13, he asks for their hearts in the mission. (3) Finally, he calls them to sever their ties with unbelievers who are distracting them from Gospel mission. Paul’s main concern, as we will see, is that the Corinthians were succumbing to “peer pressure” from the world. Linda Belleville notes, “To cave in to peer pressure, Paul says, would be in effect to receive God’s grace in vain.”[4] Paul wants the Corinthians to TRUST HIM and the God he serves.
Go Long!
Following Jesus … it is all about the long game. It’s about endurance. Imagine right now that you are the quarterback on God’s team. You see an opportunity for the Gospel and you ask your Wide Receiver to go long. What does it take for that receiver to get down the field as long and hard as he can? Endurance. Stamina. Following Jesus takes endurance. Let’s read vv. 3-10—you can feel the endurance in this section:
We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:3-10, ESV)
Wow … can you feel the endurance? Paul is screaming—GO LONG! He returns to the commendation of his ministry. Remember, much of chapters 1-5 have been focused on Paul validating his credentials as a Gospel minister. In these seven verses, he launches into an explanation about the paradoxical nature of his ministry. He is talking about endurance.
But Paul is not talking about any old endurance … he says it requires great endurance. The word, used here, is about handling adversity. It could be translated, “stand firm,” or “hold one’s ground.”[5] When the trials, come, Paul says, HOLD THE LINE! How do we do that?
A.J. Gordon once said, “We do not stand in the world bearing witness to Christ, but stand in Christ and so bear witness to the world.”[6]
Did you see what he did? We stand in Christ … and that is our witness to the world. Now, Paul launches into one of his famous, “Catalog of Deeds.” He offers 28 reasons … 28!! To endure, to go long!
What’s the lesson of this section? Paul is saying, suffering can take us off track. Suffering can cause us to give up … even on the faith. Suffering can cause us to question our calling. Suffering can cause us to lose heart. To comabt this, Paul says, “Go Long!” Even in the suffering … TRUST GOD! When we do that and focus on our future hope, it changes the calculus of our decisions.
What are some examples? Maybe we choose to delay gratification for the sake of the kingdom. We might intentionally buy less so we can give away more. Maybe we have an ethical issue with our work. Even though the pay is good, we might choose to leave and take a lower paying position for the sake of our conscience. Maybe we end that dating relationship, even thought we really like the other person, beacuse our values are not aligned. That might seem like a big decision … but going long means we are following Jesus first for the long haul.
When you recognize this, you will make resilient decision that allow you to GO LONG!
Go Deep!
This point is brief, but important. Resilient decisions are rarely made in a vacuum. We need solid, Christian brothers and sisters around us, helping us make decisions. This is what Paul appeals to now,
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (2 Corinthians 6:11-13, ESV)
We’ve opened our hearts to you … open your hearts at us. What is Paul talking about here? He senses there is some awkwardness between him and the Corinthians. Yet, this has not changed his approach or his love. “We have spoken freely” indicates his honesty. David Garland writes this, “means here that he has spoken freely or frankly to them and continues to do so […] He cannot stay silent when they stand on a dangerous precipice where one false step will lead to their spiritual ruin.”[7]
Paul’s thrust in these verses is authentic, honest community with the Corinthians. He “heart is wide open.” However, this has not been reciprocated. Have you ever been in a relationship where your feelings were not shared? It’s awkward. Underline the phrase, “you are restricted in your own affections.” What does that mean? It could be translated “withholding your affection.” This is an important phrase, which is lost in the English. Belleville writes, “Here the sense is that the Corinthians have become constrained in their feelings for Paul, so that he is finding himself gradually squeezed out of their hearts.”[8]
Did you hear that? They are squeezing Paul out of their hearts. Wow. Why? They are having an issue with Paul’s leadership. This happens all the time in the church. Even today, people are afraid to fully commit to a church, because it involves submitting to leadership or being known at a deep level. That is a form of withholding you affection for the church body. This is why membership is an important component of church life. We make commitments to each other.
Friends, if you are here at our church, I would encourage you … don’t withhold your affection. Open your hearts wide. If you do not … you are missing out on community. But we are also missing out on knowing you. Go Deep! Resilient decisions are made within community. Don’t hold back.
Stay True!
In this final section, Paul clarifies why he is concerned about the Corinthians—they are opening their hearts to the wider world. They are falling in love with false gods. The first verse will be familiar to church goers. Paul writes in v. 14:
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 6:14, ESV)
If you attended youth group as a teenager, and you ever heard a dating talk, this verse was probably familiar. Don’t date non-Christians! And certainly don’t marry non-Christians … if you are a Christian. While there is truth to that application, that is not Paul’s primary reason for writing.
The word, “yoked,” is a funny word any he is not talking about eggs! I don’t want you runny yolks! The yolks on you friends! No. The term literally says don’t be “other yoked.” It is an agrarian term for cattle. The word, heterozygeo, referred to the practice of yoking to a plow, two unequal animals—an ox and a donkey for example. That would make it hard to accomplish the work. It would be counterproductive.
Certainly, this can pertain to dating, marriage and friendship … but it’s more likely he is primarily concerned with business and working partnerships. If you go back and read 1 Corinthians 8-10, this was chief in Paul’s arguments. There he tells the Corinthians to avoid meat sacrificed to idols because it impacts their worship of Jesus. The primary place this practice happened was in pagan temples during business meetings. The Corinthians did not avoid these meetings because it might cut off their business dealings. They gave in to cultural peer pressure, and their walk with the Lord was impacted.
This was the chief concern of Paul is 6:1. He was concerned the Corinthians were going to walk away from the faith because the money was good on the other side. He was concerned they would sin and think it wasn’t a big deal. He was concerned that the idols of this world would capture their hearts and make them ineffective for the kingdom. He was concerned they would not make resilient decisions … because they were listening to people who didn’t have the same values. In v. 14, he has a righteous explosion of truth …
For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; (2 Corinthians 6:14-16, ESV)
He does more compare and contrast … but he ends with the pointed statement: “We are the TEMPLE of the Living God!” He has used this language before and it is intentional. You cannot worship in the temple of Aphrodite, and think you won’t be influenced by Aphrodite. You cannot worship in the temple of Amazon, and think you won’t be influenced by Amazon. The values are opposite!
Application
Now, you can see the application for our lives. You can see why Paul is concerned about people rejecting the grace of the Gospel as certain partnerships take root in your life.
- Marriage and Dating: This is a perfect example. Why would someone do this? Maybe you are settling out of insecurity. Maybe you’ve become emotionally entangled too quickly. When this happens, I’ve always seen the Christian struggle. Why? How many of you would be willing to admit, your partner has influenced you? For good or bad. Whom you marry is one of the most important decisions you will make. You cannot be in a sexual union with someone, and not have that impact you emotionally. If you go and read 1 Kings, this was Solomon’s downfall. He had all these foreign wives and concubines … and his heart turned from the Lord. So … if you date or marry a non-Christian … yes, that will impact your spiritual life. You allegiance will be torn.
- Friendships: To a lesser extend this impacts friendships. Teenagers, this is why your parents may be concerned about your friends. They will influence you. Whom you follow on social media will influence you. If your closest friends are not Christians, your decisions may not be totally Biblical if they are influenced by people who don’t know the Bible. Those decisions might not be resilient.
- Business Relations: Finally, business. This is not one we speak about much. I would argue, this is the primary point of this section. I know a number of people who have been put in ethical dilemmas at their job … because their boss, or the company, was engaged in shady behavior. But because they were not Christians … they didn’t care. Why? Money and cultural influence are at the center of this problem. It was a big problem in both 1 and 2 Corinthians. Paul is seeing Christians walk away from the Gospel because to stay true would cause them to lose money and influence in the wider society. So … that does not necessarily mean you need to quit your job … but it does mean you need to pray about who you go into business with. Who you work for. If that company does not align with your values … it might need to give you pause. Or you might need to count the cost. Will that partnership influence you away from the Gospel? Will is cause you to be ineffective for the Gospel? Will it cause you to receive the grace of God in vain?
All these relationships can take you away from following God … from committing your life to Jesus! God doesn’t want that for us … he doesn’t want His grace to be received in vain! He wants you to Go Big … he wants you to Go Long … he wants you to Go Deep … and he wants you to STAY TRUE to Jesus. He wants you to have a RESILIENT FAITH!
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[1] David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians, vol. 29, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 303.
[2] Linda L. Belleville, 2 Corinthians, vol. 8, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1996), 2 Co 6:1–3.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Belleville, 2 Corinthians, 6:4-10.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Garland, 2 Corinthians, 328.
[8] Belleville, 2 Corinthians, 2 Co 6:11–13.
