Even though Paul has made it his life’s mission and work to love and serve people, the relationships that are such a gift to him also bring grief. He faces criticism to come his way about his leadership, and the fact that he doesn’t come with the same kind of credentials as others. Paul uses these criticisms to emphasize some of the greatest truths of the gospel in 2 Corinthians chapters 3 and 4: We are not sufficient in and of ourselves, but we are sufficient because Jesus’ work on our behalf was sufficient. We can have confidence in ourselves because of Jesus’ competence. God made a way for us not only to see His glory in spite of our sinfulness, but allows us to reflect this same glory. Paul emphasizes that there is a freedom in the Lord because of salvation in Christ- in many ways, and for him in particular there is freedom from the criticisms (and the compliments) that people may give him. He understands that anything that he has comes from the mercy of the God who loved us and gave Himself for us.