"Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others."
This is interesting to me because Paul is sharing how important it is to work hard, not just for personal reasons but for others. God is trying to get us to remove all the selfishness that dwells in all of us so we can be attractive to others that might not know the Lord. When we see selfish people we usually are not drawn to them, but when we see giving people there is something different. It is definitely a heart thing and letting go of our worldly desires is a great way to grow and understand why we let the Holy Spirit lead us.
James chapter 3 verse 15 says, "For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic." Nothing done because of our selfish desires will ever make an impact for the Kingdom of God and when we think we are the ones doing it or growing the Kingdom we will have the wrong ambitions in place and it will be earthly. James continues in verse 16 by saying, "For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." We must always check our motives, give them to God and be thankful for what He has done in our lives. I love what Paul says in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 12, "Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart." A sincere heart led by the Spirit is one that doesn't need praise or doesn't have to say why, they just do because that is what God is doing in them.
Paul goes on in verses 13-14 to say, "If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ's love controls us." As we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we need to let what He did and taught fill our hearts and as that happens the Holy Spirit leads us with Christ's love. Our selfish desires to have the most, be the most, and want the most turns into how we can share the most, serve the most, and give the most so we can shine Christ's love so others can experience is as well. I love verse 15 which says, "He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them." God's free gift is amazing, but it takes us accepting it and using it to be doing His will, which is perfect, so as we grow we become less of what our worldly self is and we become more of what Christ has shown us in His word.
With that we develop and change because He is filling us and the Holy Spirit shows us our responsibility to continue to develop and share. I want to end with verse 17 and pray that everyone really believes this and we let's the Holy Spirit move us. "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" Amen