Paul Writing in Prison After His Sufferingsby KandD
11:282 Corinthians 11:28
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Beside all outward hardships lay a distinct inward pressure that came upon him every day, a continual and ever-growing care for all the churches that was never laid aside or forgotten. It meant deep anguish over apostasy in churches of his own planting, fear lest his labor prove vain, sleepless nights in prayer and earnest thought over false teachers and varied efforts to destroy his influence, and writing reproof, counsel, admonition and encouragement as their state demanded. The burden did not end when he left them or even when he was in prison at Rome, but continued in constant solicitude and tender supervision over churches he had raised up and fields he had not visited, carried on by personal letters and by faithful delegates who reported on conditions and dangers. The same unceasing burden rests on watchmen, overseers and ministers today, on whom the condition of the churches rests, to labor constantly for the flock and be examples to them rather than leave them without food to perish. He did not make his sufferings the center of thought or dwell on his own trials, but magnified God's grace, rejoiced in consolation in Christ amid persecution and discouragement, and sought no discharge from the warfare until laying off the armor at the Redeemer's feet.
Paul's Daily Burden
The care named here is inward and daily, distinct from outward hardships, a continual and ever-increasing burden for all the churches that was carried on the soul without pause and never laid aside or forgotten for a moment. It was a daily distress over churches raised up by his own labor, and at times the pressure was so great it could scarcely be endured, with outward dangers and inward fears harassing beyond human power to bear. Leaving a church did not end it, for those left behind remained the object of constant solicitude and tender watchcare.
While laboring at Ephesus, and near its close, this burden rested daily upon the soul amid teaching publicly and from house to house with tears and many tears. At the same time the gospel was pushed forward with untiring zeal and the interests of a church yet young in the faith were guarded, while continual Jewish opposition stirred popular feeling, with mob attacks, insult and abuse, and enemies seeking to destroy the work for the salvation of men. With his own hands, at Ephesus as at Corinth, necessities were supplied by physical labor in weariness and painfulness from unceasing toil and constant danger, enfeebled by disease and at times depressed in spirit, yet steadfast in work.
The care included deep anguish over tidings of apostasy in churches of his own planting, with great fear that efforts for them would prove vain. Many sleepless nights were spent in prayer and earnest thought over the new and varied methods used to counteract the work. Part of that counterwork came from false teachers who prejudiced brethren against him and brought false charges to destroy his influence among the churches. As opportunity came, letters were written to the churches with reproof, counsel, admonition and encouragement as their state and condition demanded.
At Troas on the way from Ephesus toward Macedonia the daily pressure of the care of all the churches rested heavily on the heart, especially in anxious concern for Corinth after sending words of counsel and reproof. When Titus did not meet him there with news of how the letter was received, there was no rest in spirit. Troas was left for Macedonia to learn the outcome, at times fearing the counsels and admonitions would be misunderstood and despised, until Titus brought cheering news that many had accepted the instruction and repented.
The same care continued during imprisonment at Rome, where the burden for all the churches still rested heavily and the dangers threatening those labored for so earnestly were deeply felt. Personal instruction was supplied as far as possible by written communications in place of presence, and authorized delegates were sent to labor among churches raised up and in fields not visited. By communication with those faithful messengers, information came concerning the condition and dangers of the churches, enabling constant supervision, so that labors were not confined to preaching the gospel. Amid travel, preaching, establishing churches and working for self-support a constant concern was carried, with special attention even to the smallest companies of believers that their members might be thoroughly established in truth and taught to put forth earnest, unselfish effort for those around them.
Ministry After Paul's Example
Part of Paul's labor was a burden for the churches carried upon his soul continually, a daily care for all of them that he never laid off or forgot for one moment. That unceasing burden sets the standard for those made watchmen and overseers, upon whom the condition of the churches rests, who must feel the same continual responsibility and labor constantly for the flock. They are to be examples to the flock rather than doing nothing and leaving the sheep and lambs without food to perish. The care of all the churches remains a responsibility entrusted to church leaders, so a good soldier in the Lord's service does not act independently of those who bear it, but carries out important plans with counsel and coordinated action.
The daily care of the churches is a continuing burden beyond outward hardships, and the same applies to caring for God's cause today with its wide responsibility across the country, including responsibility for the paper and the office as borne by Brother White, bringing sleepless nights and earnest prayer. The chapter where the daily care stands gives much instruction against viewing matters after human eyesight and engaging in a work not appointed but condemned. That condemned work is to criticize, to climb upon the judgment seat, and to pronounce sentence. Instead of faultfinding, evil surmising, evil speaking, bearing false witness, hatred, and accusing of the brethren, critics should seek spiritual advancement by watchfully examining their own hearts, looking well to their own shortcomings and defects of character, and removing the beam from themselves.
Paul's daily distress over the burden of the churches he had raised up was sometimes so great he could scarcely endure it, with outward dangers and inward fears harassing him beyond his own power to bear. Part of that care came from false teachers who prejudiced his brethren against him and made false charges to destroy his influence among those churches. The heavy burden lay on his soul while battling opposition, pushing the gospel work forward with untiring zeal, and guarding the interests of a church still young in the faith. It was borne together with labor with his own hands at Ephesus as at Corinth to supply his necessities, in weariness and pain from unceasing toil and constant danger, enfeebled by disease and at times depressed in spirit, yet steadfast in work. It included deep anguish over news of apostasy in churches of his planting, great fear that his efforts might prove vain, many sleepless nights spent in prayer and earnest thought over methods used to counteract his work, and writing to the churches with reproof, counsel, admonition, and encouragement as their condition demanded.
He did not make his own sufferings the center of his thoughts or dwell on his own trials, but turned from them to magnify God's grace. Amid all persecutions and discouragements he could rejoice in the consolation he found in Christ. Amid constant opposition, clamor of enemies, and desertion of friends, he carried the burden on by looking back to Calvary with new ardor to spread the knowledge of the Crucified, treading the blood-stained path Christ trod before, and seeking no discharge from the warfare until laying off his armor at the Redeemer's feet.
Beside all outward hardships lay a distinct inward pressure that came upon him every day, a continual and ever-growing care for all the churches that was never laid aside or forgotten. It meant deep anguish over apostasy in churches of his own planting, fear lest his labor prove vain, sleepless nights in prayer and earnest thought over false teachers and varied efforts to destroy his influence, and writing reproof, counsel, admonition and encouragement as their state demanded. The burden did not end when he left them or even when he was in prison at Rome, but continued in constant solicitude and tender supervision over churches he had raised up and fields he had not visited, carried on by personal letters and by faithful delegates who reported on conditions and dangers. The same unceasing burden rests on watchmen, overseers and ministers today, on whom the condition of the churches rests, to labor constantly for the flock and be examples to them rather than leave them without food to perish. He did not make his sufferings the center of thought or dwell on his own trials, but magnified God's grace, rejoiced in consolation in Christ amid persecution and discouragement, and sought no discharge from the warfare until laying off the armor at the Redeemer's feet.
Paul's Daily Burden
The care named here is inward and daily, distinct from outward hardships, a continual and ever-increasing burden for all the churches that was carried on the soul without pause and never laid aside or forgotten for a moment. It was a daily distress over churches raised up by his own labor, and at times the pressure was so great it could scarcely be endured, with outward dangers and inward fears harassing beyond human power to bear. Leaving a church did not end it, for those left behind remained the object of constant solicitude and tender watchcare.
While laboring at Ephesus, and near its close, this burden rested daily upon the soul amid teaching publicly and from house to house with tears and many tears. At the same time the gospel was pushed forward with untiring zeal and the interests of a church yet young in the faith were guarded, while continual Jewish opposition stirred popular feeling, with mob attacks, insult and abuse, and enemies seeking to destroy the work for the salvation of men. With his own hands, at Ephesus as at Corinth, necessities were supplied by physical labor in weariness and painfulness from unceasing toil and constant danger, enfeebled by disease and at times depressed in spirit, yet steadfast in work.
The care included deep anguish over tidings of apostasy in churches of his own planting, with great fear that efforts for them would prove vain. Many sleepless nights were spent in prayer and earnest thought over the new and varied methods used to counteract the work. Part of that counterwork came from false teachers who prejudiced brethren against him and brought false charges to destroy his influence among the churches. As opportunity came, letters were written to the churches with reproof, counsel, admonition and encouragement as their state and condition demanded.
At Troas on the way from Ephesus toward Macedonia the daily pressure of the care of all the churches rested heavily on the heart, especially in anxious concern for Corinth after sending words of counsel and reproof. When Titus did not meet him there with news of how the letter was received, there was no rest in spirit. Troas was left for Macedonia to learn the outcome, at times fearing the counsels and admonitions would be misunderstood and despised, until Titus brought cheering news that many had accepted the instruction and repented.
The same care continued during imprisonment at Rome, where the burden for all the churches still rested heavily and the dangers threatening those labored for so earnestly were deeply felt. Personal instruction was supplied as far as possible by written communications in place of presence, and authorized delegates were sent to labor among churches raised up and in fields not visited. By communication with those faithful messengers, information came concerning the condition and dangers of the churches, enabling constant supervision, so that labors were not confined to preaching the gospel. Amid travel, preaching, establishing churches and working for self-support a constant concern was carried, with special attention even to the smallest companies of believers that their members might be thoroughly established in truth and taught to put forth earnest, unselfish effort for those around them.
Ministry After Paul's Example
Part of Paul's labor was a burden for the churches carried upon his soul continually, a daily care for all of them that he never laid off or forgot for one moment. That unceasing burden sets the standard for those made watchmen and overseers, upon whom the condition of the churches rests, who must feel the same continual responsibility and labor constantly for the flock. They are to be examples to the flock rather than doing nothing and leaving the sheep and lambs without food to perish. The care of all the churches remains a responsibility entrusted to church leaders, so a good soldier in the Lord's service does not act independently of those who bear it, but carries out important plans with counsel and coordinated action.
The daily care of the churches is a continuing burden beyond outward hardships, and the same applies to caring for God's cause today with its wide responsibility across the country, including responsibility for the paper and the office as borne by Brother White, bringing sleepless nights and earnest prayer. The chapter where the daily care stands gives much instruction against viewing matters after human eyesight and engaging in a work not appointed but condemned. That condemned work is to criticize, to climb upon the judgment seat, and to pronounce sentence. Instead of faultfinding, evil surmising, evil speaking, bearing false witness, hatred, and accusing of the brethren, critics should seek spiritual advancement by watchfully examining their own hearts, looking well to their own shortcomings and defects of character, and removing the beam from themselves.
Paul's daily distress over the burden of the churches he had raised up was sometimes so great he could scarcely endure it, with outward dangers and inward fears harassing him beyond his own power to bear. Part of that care came from false teachers who prejudiced his brethren against him and made false charges to destroy his influence among those churches. The heavy burden lay on his soul while battling opposition, pushing the gospel work forward with untiring zeal, and guarding the interests of a church still young in the faith. It was borne together with labor with his own hands at Ephesus as at Corinth to supply his necessities, in weariness and pain from unceasing toil and constant danger, enfeebled by disease and at times depressed in spirit, yet steadfast in work. It included deep anguish over news of apostasy in churches of his planting, great fear that his efforts might prove vain, many sleepless nights spent in prayer and earnest thought over methods used to counteract his work, and writing to the churches with reproof, counsel, admonition, and encouragement as their condition demanded.
He did not make his own sufferings the center of his thoughts or dwell on his own trials, but turned from them to magnify God's grace. Amid all persecutions and discouragements he could rejoice in the consolation he found in Christ. Amid constant opposition, clamor of enemies, and desertion of friends, he carried the burden on by looking back to Calvary with new ardor to spread the knowledge of the Crucified, treading the blood-stained path Christ trod before, and seeking no discharge from the warfare until laying off his armor at the Redeemer's feet.