2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6 … is another important and vital chapter. We should note three topics here. First, Chapter 6 begins with one of the most profound and most ignored statements in Scripture: the admonition not to receive God’s grace in vain. Someone has wisely said that God has many worshippers, but not many workers. If 2 Corinthians 6:1 were followed, there would be no shortage of workers.

Second, we’re given an example of an ideal worker in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, the personal testimony of the Apostle Paul. You may recall many of the incidents in Paul’s testimony from the last half of the book of Acts. Paul was an impressive instrument in the hands of God, and it all began with availability … making himself available to God.

The final topic (v.11-16) has several applications, but we’ll apply them to marriage here. Verse 11 opens our topic with a vital observation and a graphic illustration. You can’t have communications with someone whose heart is not open for communications. Sometimes we may have good communications, but a misplaced word or disappointment will cause our hearts to be closed to communication. So, we picture two individuals standing face to face with a communication flap over their hearts. Only when both have “open hearts” can communications flow – it’s vital in marriage and in many other areas of life as well. That’s followed with an important and too frequently ignored encouragement that believers should seek out other believers for marriage. The reason is logically stated and two reasons are given: First that a couple with differing worldviews won’t be compatible in the most intimate (that is spiritual) level of life. Second, Christians are a people called to be separate, living not as the world lives, but in a relationship and commitment to the Living God. Much personal anguish could be saved by following that counsel from God’s Word.