“who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6 ESV
Reflection: if you were a minister for some office, what would be your function or activities?
Early in my engineering career, I had my eye on becoming a manager of people. At the time, I was driven by and excited about the prospect of the title, the expanded responsibilities, and quite frankly the idea of having people reporting to me. Ok, I know I was very immature and self centered. But although the company provided good training for new managers, and a supportive community, the ideas I had in my mind of how to manage effectively didn’t last long. And after a few years, my whole focus had changed. I started maturing, to become a good leader, which in the end is much more of a supporting role for your team. Setting direction and goals, then spending my time helping people to succeed and meet those goals, even many who were not directly in my team.
And in many ways we find this similarly to church life, in the roles of ministers and pastors. Some might be attracted at first to these roles for gaining a title, for the responsibilities, and possibly for having a church body look up to them. But, these roles really are service roles, such as a pastor being the shepherd for the flock. The minister is also a servant typically more involved in teaching, but both of these are like leaders in business. They set direction, but then focus on helping the congregation succeed through teaching and encouragement. According to the Webster dictionary, to minister is to “give aid or service”, so when put in those terms, is not so glamorous. A minister is a servant function, a servant role, similar to being a leader.
In today’s focus verse, Paul is referring to himself as a minister; in fact, making this title more general, saying they are “ministers of a new covenant”. Now who was he referring to in addition to himself? For sure his travel companions. But when you read his whole letter, you get a sense that he is also including the Corinthians, as he calls them “co-workers”, “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 Corinthians 6:1 NIV. Now, what exactly is it again he says they are ministers of? He says they minister or service “a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
A minister for the Spirit who gives life.
Now that is quite the ministry when you think about it!! Being a minister for the Holy Spirit, minister of life. So how are they able to claim such ministry, such competence, you might wonder? Paul writes “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 NIV. Notice Paul is very clear – his knowledge, his understanding and ability to share with and encourage others. To minister the Spirit of life to others.
So it is not just a few who are ministers. Because, if we have the Holy Spirit, aren’t we all ministers of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit gives us gifts, spiritual gifts which really are assignments as he wants. And we are therefore ministers of these gifts; not to keep them for ourselves, but to build up the church. To build up the body of believers.