2 Corinthians 13:7
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
The verse is a prayer to God that believers do no evil and do what is honest and right. It is God Himself speaking through the apostle in that prayer. Its motive is not that Paul and his fellow workers should appear approved, but that believers should do right for its own sake even if the apostles themselves appear disqualified and are counted as reprobates. It follows and belongs to the call to examine and prove whether believers are in the faith, whether Christ dwells in them, and whether they are disapproved. It expresses the desire for their perfection, with apostolic authority used for building up and not for tearing down. It is joined to the principle that nothing can be done against the truth, but only for it.
For ministers it means being closely related to God, exalting the truth and triumphing with it, and being approved in the sight of God by faithfulness to the talents committed to them. It forbids taking a course of private judgment apart from the work, sowing doubt, showing unbelief in the testimonies, and shaking the faith of others, because sowing doubt is the special work of Satan and does not bring souls nearer to God or make them stronger, more devoted and pious.
It calls for examining the past experience and fruit of those who have done such work, to see whether they became purer, better and holier. It requires work that will stand the test of the judgment by bringing gold, silver and precious stones that will stand the fires of the last days, by serving Jehovah and not Baal, by elevating the standard and not bringing it down, by going forth weeping bearing precious seed and returning with rejoicing bringing sheaves, and by putting on every piece of the armor and working in harmony with brethren in the Spirit of Christ to advance God's work.