The Apostle Paul makes the case that the pastoral ministry, more than any other profession, demands the best, the most spiritually qualified, and the most skilled men. He declares that the standards are high for many reasons: because the spiritual dimension of life is more important than the physical; because serving God is more demanding than serving anyone else; because His kingdom and glory are at stake; and because His servants face a more stringent evaluation of their service. So daunting is the challenge of the ministry that Paul asked rhetorically, “Who is sufficient (adequate) for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:16). Who is competent to take on the monumental and eternally significant duty of preaching the Word of God and leading the people of God? In this passage, he answers that question: Our sufficiency is from God, who is the One who makes us adequate (3:5-6). All of us who know Christ as Savior are ministers of God. Are you being effective?