There are those who have stumbling blocks in their ministry, which hinder some from true faith in Christ. As the previous chapter indicated, getting paid for ministry was a stumbling block. Such things call into question the motivation of the messenger. Another he had pointed out was preaching ambiguously and unclearly; things that deal with clear communication of the message. It would be nice if the audience were just logical and objective, but the flesh gets in the way, being desperate to reject the message and the messenger irrationally. Thus a good messenger avoids unncessary hinderances to the receiving of the message.
vs 4-10 Rather than getting paid, it cost Paul a great deal just to deliver the message. But this is good, for then those who hear him would not be able to question what he gets out of it, but rather Paul wins a hearing by communicating his conviction by what it costs him. Communicating our convictions is essential to winning a hearing. Suffering for Christ in ministry will make people stand up and take notice, giving us an opportunity to speak and others to hear.
The problem in evangelism is not so much finding an opportunity to speak, but rather having an opportunity to speak to those who are listening. Getting people to listen is not that easy, even with Jesus. Why did the crowds come to Jesus? It wasn't generally because of what he said. For often when he spoke he would lose people, as in John 6. But rather he attracted people through miracles. Now we may not have miracles we can casually perform, but we can apply the Bible to our life and prove to others that we really believe what we preach.
vs 11-13 How we speak and behave towards other is generally how we should expect others to speak and behave towards us. If we demand others to share their personal things with us, do we share our personal things with them? If we expect others to love us, do we love them?
vs 14-18 On the other hand, though there should be a degree of intimacy between believers, there should also be a sense of distance towards unbelievers. The context of not being yoked together with unbelievers is often applied to marriage and appropriately so. But I think here Paul is referring to fellowship with unbelievers in areas of spiritual truth and righteousness behavior. In 1Corinthians he had already said this with respect to separating from licentious Christians.
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1Cor 5:11-13As we live in a pluralistic society which is becoming increasingly global in extent, there is increasing pressure to be conformed to the culture and think and act like everyone else. We must keep alert to separate ourselves in the areas which are appropriate. We do not define our purpose or perspective in life the way the world does. We do not have the same value system as the world, nor do we define our relationships that same way. We are not devoted to the same things. We have God living and walking with us, even in us, in the person of the Holy Spirit.
"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1John 5:12
The Boston Christian Bible Study Resources Apr 12,2004