Perfection in Weakness
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Cultivating Humility
Cultivating Humility
Many times in my life, the greatest learnings have come from failures and the struggles I have had to endure. Before those times, it was stereotypical of me to rely on my own understandings and believe that I had the knowledge and character to persevere through life on my own.
As a teenager we are often accused of thinking we are invincible. It is perhaps because we have not been humbled to the point of realizing our frailty. I played soccer throughout my youth and during High School. During one game, a teammate and myself went to head the ball at the same time. Unfortunately, I did not have as hard a head as he did and was knocked out for a bit.
When I came to, I thought I had just fallen down but was instead escorted off of the field until I felt better. Looking back on this time and the different injuries I suffered has allowed me to be aware of my own physical weakness.
Spiritually, I am willing but the flesh is weak and I must admit my weakness. Through my weakness, I am able to relate to others who are struggling. Relate to others who are going through a difficult time and relate to those who are just beginning to understand their own frailty.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Proud of Your Salvation or Humbled by Your Weakness?
Proud of Your Salvation or Humbled by Your Weakness?
One problem we have in our culture is that we do not allow people to show weakness well. We forget to forgive those who are also human and forget that they are not perfect. Only our Lord, Jesus Christ, is perfect and when people fail, we must pray for them and pray they understand how God is witnessed through the humility of people.
Throughout history, there have been many examples of people who have found strength in their weakness. One example is Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf from an early age. Despite her disabilities, she became a renowned author and speaker. She once said, "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
Another example is Nick Vujicic, who was born without limbs. Despite this, he has become a successful motivational speaker and author. He often talks about how his disability has been a blessing in disguise, as it has given him a unique perspective on life and the ability to inspire others.
Not only were these two humbled by their weakness but they were able to boast about their weaknesses in order to encourage others who were suffering.
Sufficient Grace
Sufficient Grace
It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
Why is it necessary to boast? Paul proclaims here that it is necessary for one to proclaim things they have experienced as to gain the respect or ear of those who would desire to understand that which is good for those who desire to know or learn more about God.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
Who better to learn from than one who was taught by Jesus? Paul’s vision, whether it was bodily or out of body gained him the insight to understand that even though some people would use this only to garner the support for their understanding of God does not tell the whole story.
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
Some things are only for God to know. Here, even though Paul is given a vision, he is not given the entire knowledge of God. Paul begins to give out a part of the weakness he experiences; that he was caught up to the perfection of God while he does not even understand whether it was in his body or not.
was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
On behalf of such a man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in weaknesses.
There are times in our lives where we are so spiritually connected to God that we forget the entire will of God does not end in ourselves. We are given different charges. All of us have different weaknesses.
For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will consider me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me.
Paul is only as boastful as he can be in the truth only. His boasting is in Christ.
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!
Yes, Paul did desire to boast about his experiences. How often do we do this to make ourselves out to be so connected with God that we forget that we must rely on Him continually?
Thankfully, God provides a thorn in Paul’s flesh which prevents him from exalting himself. Commentators have proclaimed this thorn could be one of two things:
The thorn is buried under the flesh and therefore something internal to Paul that he is aware of. An internal desire or temptation that will not go away.
Secondly, a thorn is something which is external pushing into the skin from outside. This analogy goes along with the many people who came against Paul’s message during his ministry.
Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.
Paul pleaded with the Lord. He did not just pray but pleaded with God. Remember the times throughout the Bible that people pleaded with God. Moses pleaded on behalf of the Israelites to spare them when God was angry with them.
God spared the Israelites on behalf of Moses’ prayer.
Abraham pleaded on behalf of the people where Lot was living if there were any righteous to spare them.
God carried out His mission to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
God’s will does not always match what we desire.
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
God answers Paul with the words of His grace. Even through the darkest times in Paul’s life, God’s grace was sufficient. Paul boasts about his weakness, his humility, and his frailty so that others will see God working through him.
Think of Gideon and his overcoming the an army with broken lamps and the word of God going through the camp.
There are so many instances of God’s power showing through weakness that we are foolish to proclaim otherwise.
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions and hardships, for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul was so well content with his weakness that it has survived millennia to give us an understanding of humility. We may see Christ working through others who proclaim weakness better than we can see Christ portrayed through others who say they have it all figured out.
How better the testimony of one who shows they are human like the rest of us. Those of us who suffer, those of us who have temptation in our lives, and those who lose loved ones and do not understand what is going on in this world?
Are you content with your weakness?
Are you content with your weakness?
Have you laid down your guilt, shame, and burdens at the cross? Confessed your weakness so that Christ may work through you in the likeness of Paul?
The more we harden our hearts to be proud believers having everything figured out, we prevent ourselves from being broken and molded into what God has for us.
Some of you are so discontent with your weaknesses that you do not admit them even to yourselves. It is in this hardening and turning away of your own sins in your lives that sin gains a foothold.
God warned Cain,
“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is lying at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Name it and Claim it?
Name it and Claim it?
Paul fervently tried to get rid of this “thorn in the flesh” but was told that God’s grace is sufficient.
How many of you have been told that fervent and persistent prayer to God will get you what you desire?
Hubbard mentions,
“Certainly we are encouraged to pray boldly in faith (Matt. 21:22) and told not to doubt (James 1:6– 7; 5:14). On the other hand, Jesus himself qualifies his prayer in Gethsemane with, “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39), and it would seem that the apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:1– 10 is providing a very personal illustration of this principle.”
Hubbard, Moyer V.. 2 Corinthians (Teach the Text Commentary Series), Baker Books, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=5248448.
Created from liberty on 2023-01-28 18:46:39.
How you mentor and teach others is to balance persistent prayer with the understanding of God’s will over ours.
Paul’s understanding of this was with Christ’s profound utterance of God’s grace being more than sufficient for his needs.
God’s All Sufficient Grace is All You Need
God’s All Sufficient Grace is All You Need
People within the Corinthian church had many people telling them many different things. Paul’s words to them were to trust in God’s grace through all things. Many people in the church today hear prosperity preaching; that all pain, suffering, and loss will go away if you just have enough faith and pray enough.
This leads to greater suffering than if we are content with the weakness we currently carry with us.
Christ’s bride, the church must understand that comfort is only found in the continual reliance upon our savior. We are never safe in our own comforts and control.
Many times, God allows our temptations, trials, and sufferings to remain with us in order to keep our exaltations of ourselves at bay. Otherwise, we may boast in ourselves of our own achievements rather than allowing God’s perfection to shine through our lowliness.