Read 2 Corinthians 10:12–18
It is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the
one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:18
How does God approve our work? By testing it. The Greek word
translated “approved” in verse 18 means “approved by testing.” There
is a future testing at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:10ff.), but
there is also a present testing.
Over the years, I have seen ministries tested by financial losses,
false doctrine, proud leaders who want to “run the church,” and the
challenge of change. Some of the churches have fallen apart because
their work was not spiritual. Other ministries have grown because of
their trials and have become purer and stronger, and, through it all,
God was glorified.
Certainly our ministries must keep records and issue reports, but
we must not fall into the “snare of statistics” and think that numbers
are the only measurement of ministry. Each situation is unique, and
no ministry can honestly be evaluated on the basis of some other ministry. The important thing is that we are where God wants us to be,
doing what He wants us to do so that He might be glorified. Motive is
as much a part of God’s measurement of our work as is growth.
“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (2 Cor. 10:17).
Something to Ponder
What are some ways that God has recently tested your work? What
were the results?