In the February issue we looked at Paul as a representative man of this dispensation relative to his person, his ministry and his manner of life. Let us look at Paul again, this time in trying circumstances. Perhaps more than in any other sphere, his manner of responding to these provides a pattern for us.
Paul suffered adversely in two ways — from an ungodly world and from the condition of things in the church. His life was one of suffering, yet he triumphed in it rather than succumbing to discouragement. First let us consider his sufferings from an ungodly world.
Suffering From the World,
but Not Discouraged
Paul’s first missionary journey was characterized by rejection and suffering, including the incident in Lystra where he was stoned and left for dead. Later, in his second missionary journey with Silas, he was beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. On this same journey his life was threatened in Ephesus, and later on, in recounting some of his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11, he refers to many occasions of persecution not otherwise recorded in Scripture. In referring later to the incident in Ephesus, he says, “We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life” (2 Cor. 1:8). Because of all this, he might well have become discouraged. Yet he constantly tells his brethren not to faint or lose heart. In 2 Corinthians 4, he gives believers two reasons not to faint.
First, he points to our privileges in Christ — how that we are able “with open face” to behold “the glory of the Lord.” As a result, we are changed into the same image “from glory to glory.” If there are difficulties in the Christian life, it is not so much the trials that have the potential to discourage us, but how we meet them. If the earthen vessel (our natural selves) must be broken in order that the light may shine out better, it is only that we may have more of the glory of Christ reflected in us. The vessel may be cast down, troubled and persecuted, but trials cannot touch the spring of our life and energy in Christ by the power of the Spirit of God.
Second, Paul points to the end of the pathway, reminding us that we will be raised up by Jesus and presented before Him. Not only so, but what he calls our “light affliction” works for us a “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” What is seen is temporal, but what is not seen is eternal.
In view of this, what excuse has the believer to be discouraged? All discouragement ultimately springs from our expecting something from man, and not receiving it. We may even go so far as to become discouraged because we expected the Lord to do something which He did not do. We may be burdened, cast down, troubled and even depressed, yet not discouraged. Depression may result from the Christian’s being pushed almost beyond his limits by circumstances, yet the inner man, having his eye on Christ, finds strength to go on and not to faint. If the vessel (the believer himself) is broken, the treasure (the revelation of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ) shines out more brightly.
Feeling the Condition of the Church,
but Not Discouraged
Paul also suffered much because of the condition of the church. In his day, as in ours, no doubt many dear believers were content to know only that they were saved from coming judgment, but Paul wanted more than this. He wanted to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28)!
Thus Paul felt keenly the condition of the saints. He could say, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” (2 Cor. 11:29). He labored strenuously to correct that which was adversely affecting their spiritual growth, whether in bad doctrine or bad practice. In all this he was often misunderstood and even falsely accused.
In Corinth some were discounting the beloved Apostle and his office, casting a slur on his bodily presence and his speech (2 Cor. 10:10). They wanted influence and were seeking to take over his work. Unhappily, there were many all too ready to follow these men. In responding to such, he is compelled to give an account of his sufferings for Christ, showing that the true minister of Christ must be prepared to suffer for Him.
Ministry Rejected, but Not Discouraged
But the crowning blow comes at the end of his life. His zeal for his own nation had resulted in his being taken prisoner and sent to Rome. After spending two years in Rome in “his own hired house” (Acts 28:30), he was probably released for a short time. Then he was arrested again and placed in prison.
By the time he wrote the second epistle to Timothy, he had to say concerning those among whom he had labored, “All they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (2 Timothy 1:15). No doubt they still adhered to the Christian faith, but they had evidently turned away from Paul’s ministry as to the heavenly calling of the church. He saw the fruit of his many years of labor gradually evaporating while he was in prison, unable to travel and to help the situation. We can scarcely think of a more potentially discouraging situation for a servant of the Lord!
Paul the Encourager
But was Paul discouraged? No! He could say to Timothy, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1), and later on he could say, “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of” (2 Tim. 3:14). He had committed a deposit to the Lord and could encourage Timothy also to keep the “good deposit” (2 Tim. 1:14 JND) entrusted to him. He would warn Timothy (and ultimately us, too!) of the dangers that would come in the last days, but nowhere is there any thought of discouragement.
His circumstances too were evidently not the most comfortable, as he endured the hardships of a real prison. He asked Timothy to bring with him “the cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus” (2 Tim. 4:13).
In addition, he had to report that “at my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me” (2 Tim. 4:16). Other believers forsook him when he needed them most. But again, like his Master, Paul’s thought was for them, not for himself, and his only comment was to “pray God that it may not be laid to their charge” (2 Tim. 4:16).
Although the Lord Jesus is our only perfect example, surely these things are recorded of Paul as a representative man for this dispensation that we might learn how to face potential discouragement in the Christian pathway. Rather than being discouraged by difficulties in the world or among our brethren, may we be encouraged in the same way Paul was!
W. J. Prost