2 Corinthians 6:4b-5 by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
The list begins of Paul’s hardships that form his resume of commending himself and his co-workers. It begins with the positive word endurance. When hardships come our way, we must choose to endure. Endurance is the outcome of living by faith and is needed for all the other things listed here. Its importance is indicated by being first in the list. This word is intensified with the word “great” or “much.” God’s grace will provide just what we need to endure the situation. There still may be pain and even death, but our hope outlasts any challenges we may face.
The next eight items show the physical challenges Paul faced in his ministry. Affliction or distress can be experienced in many ways. This word can also be translated as tribulation or oppression. We might expect this as followers of Jesus (John 16:33). The darkness does not like the light. As believers, we experience this when people mock or shame us, create laws that go against God’s laws and purposes, or cause us to be isolated or cut off from resources or people we need.
Hardship is a similar word and can mean trouble, distress, and even torture. This is a more aggressive form of oppression that may come in many different forms. It may be intentional by people or can be created in a situation that rejects the way of holiness.
Calamities or distress can be created by stressful situations that bring difficulty and anguish. This might be more situational than the other words listed so far. As followers of Christ, there are times when a decision or circumstance brings worry to us. Since this list is rather long, almost exhaustive, rhetorical, and a bit poetic, there is some overlap with the various words.
Beatings are physical strikes against one’s body. Physical punishment has been used throughout history. This is not a common public punishment in modern developed nations, although some places in the world still do canings and other forms of beating. However, physical beating is still rampant in marriages and families in the form of domestic abuse. This may at times be done to believers for spiritual reasons. Those who are in abusive relationships can seek God’s strength for endurance and ask God for ways of escape.
Imprisonments happen when Christianity is viewed as illegal. Paul experienced many imprisonments during his ministry. There are many believers today who face arrest and imprisonment for their faith. They join the company of some of the greatest saints of all time. God is the ultimate judge and looks upon his innocent children with compassion. God will revenge for those who have been unjustly imprisoned for their faith.
Riots are public disturbances, usually with a large number of people who break rules in order to get their way. They usually cause harm to innocent people. Mob rule is unpredictable. It is easy for people to blend in with a crowd and let their frustrations and even hatred loose upon those they think are the cause of their discomfort or who get in the way of their goals and dreams. Paul and his companions had whole cities riot against them.
Labors is work that is burdensome and difficult. This is more intense than the type of work we do everyday to make a living and pay for our expenses. This is the type of work that brings pain, exhaustion, and eventually can lead to burnout. Ministry in intense situations can bring this type of exhaustion. Paul had to work hard as a tent maker. He worked hard in traveling. There were probably times when he felt exhausted with all that was going on.
Sleepless nights result from worry and stress. Even believers can have sleepless nights. The mind holds many ideas deep below our momentary awareness. The experiences we have had during a day or the anticipated challenges of the future can cause the mind to worry and wake us in the middle of the night. Nightmares can be the result of such worry. Sometime our physical situation may also make it difficult to sleep, such as a hard floor, being chained in prison, being hungry, or other physical traumas. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Hunger can result when the economic situation is dire with little prospect of taking care of our needs. There are many reasons believers may face this, including the inability to get a job because of their faith, or in having a job that pays little. In some places today, Christians are marked in some way and cannot get good jobs. Even in developed nations, a Christian may not be promoted or may face difficult at work because of taking a stand for holiness and integrity. Jesus taught us not to worry about what we will eat or drink but to trust in God (Matthew 6:25-33). This can be a challenge to do when one is in the middle of a difficult situation.
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