One of the hard things to overcome in life is when someone shuts their heart to you. How do you overcome this? You can’t. It’s completely in the hands of those who shut their heart.
In this context, the Corinthians had shut their hearts to Paul.
“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also” (2 Cor 6:11-13).
Why were they closing their hearts to Paul?
- Perhaps it is because he had written them a letter of rebuke. They had responded to the rebuke, but maybe that caused them to close down (2 Cor 2:3).
- They were also impressed by flash on the outside but diminished the value of what was in the heart (2 Cor. 5:12; 10:10–12; 12:11).
- Right after he said they closed their hearts, he talks about being yoked to unbelievers, so maybe this as well (2 Cor 6:14)
- “Super apostles” had come in setting themselves as greater than all other apostles (2 Cor 12:11)
Throughout 2 Corinthians, multiple times Paul makes his appeal to them as to why he was commendable. Here are just a few places:
“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity” (2 Cor 1:12).
“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone” (2 Cor 3:1).
“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Cor 4:2).
Paul’s heart was as a father to them. They were as his spiritual children. How then did Paul commend himself to them? Through his suffering. His suffering was the “proof” that his motives were legitimate.
“We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Cor 6:3-10).
Paul’s commendation of the integrity of their ministry was not just what they suffered. Anyone can suffer. But it was also in their character. They walked in purity, understanding, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love. They also did not sell their souls for money or for self-pity. Paul and his companions gave everything for the gospel. The point? Why wouldn’t they open their hearts to them. They had proven character.
Did the Corinthians ever open their hearts? We don’t know.
Man tends to look at the flash and what impresses. But God looks at the heart, the character, and the life. We would do well to do the same.