At first reading 2 Cor. 10 seems like a strange, little chapter. No one verse jumps out until the very end. You get the idea that Paul is uncomfortable talking about himself, to some extent, and so talks all around the actual point until he gets to the very end. What's going on here is that the Corinthians, as mentioned before, were at the nexus of a spiritual "power grab" from competing religious factions, of which Paul was one. Paul was defending his authority, with meekness, but he was also pointing out that the Corinthians, by focusing on all these "better than thou" comparisons were missing the point.
I think that we tend to do that in Christian circles today. While it's true that "spiritual fruit" is an indicator of God's blessing, we should not get "hung up" on that. There are times of dormancy, which are not only a natural part of the growth of fruit trees, but also of ministries. When a ministry has been through a particularly nasty attack from Satan, the results will be visible and plain. It often takes some time to recover. One of the biggest fallacies of comparing ministries is failing to realize that God works in His own ways and in His own time. Some folks "stars" are "ascending" while others' are on the wane, at any given point in time. So what? Soli Deo Gloria!
The main thing is this: each ministry must remain true to its calling and true to the Word of God, using powerful God-tools to smash warped philosophies and tear down barriers against that Truth (vs. 4-5). That should be the focus. Then, if there is any comparing, boasting, bragging or claiming of credit to be done, it should be the way Paul put it in verses 17 and 18:
17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.
NET
This is meekness: not some trumped-up sense of false humility, but rather a determined, carnality-stomping focus on what He has done, not on what we have done. "God gives the increase", not us. (1 Cor. 3:6) Since He is in charge of results, why all this comparing? Paul says when we do that we demonstrate a lack of proper understanding (vs. 12). Indeed.
A frequent, unfortunate outcome of spiritual pride is that it blinds us to what God wants to do in our ministries next. We are so sure WE know where God is going to lead us that we miss seeing what He would like to do. I know I've been guilty of that. "Man judges on the outward appearance, but God judges the heart." My recollection of 1 Samuel 16:7. Here it is from the NET:
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Samuel was making comparisons between the sons of Jesse, and he thought for sure that Eliab, one of the taller, handsomer sons, was the one God would choose as Israel's next king. But, no....and the verse above is what God spoke to Samuel in response.
Basically, spiritual pride just kills spiritual discernment. So, let's seek meekness in our walks, in our ministries ... not seeking to promote ourselves, but rather, seeking to promote our Lord and His saving gospel. We are called to meekness and to faithfulness. He will grow His work in and through us. He will "give the increase"!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QqBJu55oXM
Father, please forgive me for my self-aggrandizement, my extreme deficit of meekness. Oh Lord! It's all about You! Nobody else. In Jesus' name, amen.
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