Fill 'Er Up

“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:” (Col 1:24 AV)

Of what is Paul speaking here?  From what is he experiencing this joy?  In the first part of the verse, his source is obvious.  The sufferings of which he suffered for the glory of Christ and the life of the church is from where he received his joy.  The second part of the verse is Paul’s understanding of further joy.  It is to suffer continued afflictions for the sake of the church.  Paul is resigned to the joy that is set before him to suffer for the cause of Christ and the benefit of the church.  Note in particular the phrase, “…fill up…”.

There comes a time when we get fed up.  Things have got to change or we lose it.  We allow our frustrations or anger get the better of us and we blow.  We are filled up to the boiling point.  When it comes to suffering, we all have our levels of tolerance.  They differ.  They are not the same.  Some have a high tolerance towards malice.  Others may have a high tolerance towards gossip.  Still others may have a high tolerance for the physical demands from ministry.  But that also means we may have a low tolerance for other areas of ministry.  Perhaps debate wears at us.  Or the little kinks that have to be ironed out.  Maybe we become weary of oft ignored counsel.  Whatever our personality or make up, there comes a time when we get fed up.  Paul, however, sought the opportunity to fill ‘er up.  He knew that ministry means suffering.  They go hand in hand.  One cannot have suffering without ministry, nor ministry without suffering.  Once the servant of God resigns to that reality, a wonderful thing happens.  He or she looks forward to it.

There is joy that comes when we stop looking at suffering as a means for results.  We get a low tolerance point because we expect a certain payout to be there if we are asked to go through some difficulties.  However, Christ went to the Cross with the desire to save all, when in fact, He will only save few.  He went to the Cross, not for results, but rather, for love.  Love for the individual, first.  Love for the church, second.  If we want to get to the point of Paul’s desire to fill ‘er up with affliction, our motive must be love.  Love for the LORD and love for God’s people.