2 Corinthians 6:1-13

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

(v1, NIV)

Paul very much desires for them to receive God's grace. But he also doesn't want them to receive it in vain. It makes me think of the parable of the sower. There are many different types of people who hear the gospel. Or rather, there are different reactions.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

(Matthew 13:1-9, NIV)

As you can tell, there are a number of different types of people from this parable. However, there is only one that produces a crop. Paul encourages those at the Corinthian church to be the good crop Jesus is explaining in this parable in Matthew.

We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

(v3, NIV)

In his hope for them he also doesn't want to cause any of them to stumble. He doesn't want to hinder them in any way. How dare he put anything between them and God. It's sad sometimes when we ourselves hinder others from the gospel. Sometimes we may selfishly not wish to tell others. It may even be sin in our lives that causes others to stumble. It's easy sometimes to put that possibility out of our mind, but when confronted with it we face guilt. How sad it is when my selfishness is the reason why someone is deterred from the gospel. Let us not hinder others. In addition, this is meant to be encouraging to those at the Corinthian church. Paul is encouraging them, showing his desire for them to not receive the grace of God in vain. Paul details a list about his experiences. He also includes characteristics and traits afterwards. We can also learn from Paul and see what lengths he will go for their sake.