to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. who is sufficient for these things? [2 cor 2:16]

 

who is sufficient? who is qualified to be the aroma of Christ? to be death to some and life to others? to be the determining factor? i think the way paul sets up this question he’s clearly looking for the rhetorical answer of, “no one.” and that is very different than, “not me,” which is the way i am tempted to answer this question. here’s what i mean…

but i think paul is setting up the answer to be “no one.” if that’s the answer then, it takes the focus off of me. it’s about what outside source could take someone from insufficient to sufficient. it becomes about Christ not me. and, if the whole point is that we are the aroma of Christ then, this has to be the emphasis.

it’s not keith’s knowledge or wisdom or humor or insight that leads people to life or death. it’s the truth of Christ. my (your) sufficiency for this task, in one sense, would be based off representing Christ not representing anything else. it’s not me knowing more. it’s me knowing Christ more.

so, i would encourage you to spend time today, seeking to know Christ more. to be the aroma, we must spend time in his presence. otherwise, we will be tempted to answer the question of sufficiency with our own strength and knowledge.

 

and i, when i came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. for i decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. and i was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. [1 cor 2:1–5]

 

~ keith kozlowski