Sincerity In Ministry
[14] But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, [16] to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
II Corinthians 2:14-17
In the midst of all the noise of what claims to be “Christian” today, it is not an irrelevant question to ask,
“What does sincere devotion to God in ministry actually look like according to the Bible?”
This is an important question not only for those who are privileged to serve vocationally within the local church, but also for those Christians who are looking to the spiritual leadership of others for guidance. While there are books that could be written about the content of these four verses, I would like to draw to your attention three simple observations that help us better understand what it means to be a sincere minister of the gospel.
1. v14 — What we “spread”, as faithful ministers of the gospel, is the “knowledge of him (God).”
In other words, we read, preach, explain, and apply the whole counsel of the Word of God to the souls of all kinds of people. We do this with a Spirit-wrought combination of love, humility, gentleness, patience, and unequivocating boldness. This is our commission from God. This is what sincere ministry looks like, (Col. 1:28-29). To be sure, as the Word takes root in the lives of the redeemed it will bring with it many good and culturally transforming effects. But the effects are not the mission, nor can these desirable effects be truly obtained by those who veer from the means of grace which God has appointed.
2. v15 — Notice that the “aroma” which we spread is “to God” and simultaneously “among” men.
This reveals that our focus, goal, and prize is to be faithful in honoring our King not our culture. We preach, teach, and live out the truth of God’s holy Word in the world and for the world, but never according to the world. Our aim is not to please men, but God, (Gal. 1:10). Even when the world thinks our message ‘stinks’ (i.e. “aroma of death” v16), we have no right or authority to change it. The message we herald is God’s message, given to God’s messengers, for God’s glory. Our chief priority is not to be approved of by men, but to be faithful to God.
3. v17 — According to the Bible, such distinctions are what distinguish the many “peddlers of God’s word” from the “men of sincerity”.
If we want the world to know Christ, we must give them Christ—the Christ of the Bible.