" Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we of Him"

A wrong impression is given in the verse as it stands in the Authorized Version quoted above. The wrong meaning is given in two words – "labor" and accepted."As it stands, it would teach that our acceptance was an uncertain thing, dependent upon our labor. Nothing can be further from the truth of the gospel and from the teaching of this verse. Our acceptance is complete and final – it is " in the Beloved ; "and God teaches us to see ourselves in Him, complete, perfect. We are made "the righteousness of God in Him."No room, then, for the uncertainty implied in the translation above. The true meaning of the word is, as given in the Revised Version, "well-pleasing." To be accepted of God is one thing ; to be well-pleasing to Him, quite another. The one is the common standing of all Christians; the other depends upon the individual walk. Alas ! God has many children who are not well-pleasing to Him:hence the frequent exhortation to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing," etc. A wrong idea, too, is conveyed in the word " labor." Its meaning rather is, as given in the margin of the Revised Version, "are ambitious;" or, perhaps, nearer yet, "make it a point of honor." So that the meaning is given if we render the verse as follows :" Wherefore also we make it a point of honor, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto Him."

The subject of the chapter is, departing to be with Christ, by death, and His coming to clothe us with our house from heaven, and to take us there. If the Lord tarry, we will go to Him, leaving our bodies here till the resurrection ; if He come for us, we shall be changed in a moment, and caught up to meet Him. In the one case, we will be "absent from the body;" in the other, we would be, "not unclothed, but clothed upon" with our house which is from heaven. To depart and be with Christ is far better, but best of all will it be when all for whom He died are gathered unto Him in glory. But in the meanwhile, whichever may be before him, the apostle makes it a point of honor to be well-pleasing to Him. Then, " whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord." So we are, as it were, put on our honor to please God. Many persons act from motives of honor. The man of the world keeps his word-abides by his contracts as a matter of honor. So our God would have us understand that it is beneath the dignity of the Christian to act in any way that is not well-pleasing to Him. It should be a point of honor with us. Let us learn to be punctilious in matters which concern our God. Indeed, it is not our own honor merely which is at stake, but His. How careful we should be ! If something of value is intrusted to us by another, we make it a special point to take care of it; so it should be since we are intrusted with what concerns God. And what is there in our life that does not concern Him ? The children of Israel were told to put a fringe of blue on the borders of their garments:that which trailed nearest to earth was to speak of heaven; and as he thought of this, we can imagine how careful the Israelite would be to prevent any soil or spot from falling upon it. So it should be with us:whatever else may fail, let us see to it that we are well-pleasing unto Him. Some may strive for a reward, some for a crown, let us make it a point of honor to please God. That is the testimony which Enoch left behind;-"he pleased God." Very little is said of him, except that he walked with God and pleased Him. If we want to please Him, that is the way-to walk with Him. If we were to strive for a crown for our own glory, it would fade in our hands ; if we seek for one to lay it at Jesus' feet, it will never fade. Ah ! that is the motive- a crown to lay at His feet! Let us, then, make it a point of honor, not to glorify ourselves,-not to vindicate ourselves, but to be well-pleasing unto Him. Zealous for God, not zealous for ourselves,-that is the Christian's object.
"Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give."