072306 Pentecost 7
Pentecost 7, July 23, 2006
Strengths versus Weaknesses
Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10
Other Lessons: Psalm 143:1–2, 5–8; Ezekiel 2:1–5; Mark 6:1–6
Theme: What, in fact, is our true strength?
Introduction: How should we measure our strengths as a congregation? What do you consider to be our strengths, and why? Personal strengths seem to be the focal point of Paul’s discourse in the Epistle reading. He is in a battle of sorts for the validity of his apostolic call. Others are boasting of their great abilities and teachings—saying they are superior to Paul—boasting of their special abilities of the flesh. So in the previous chapter, and into the beginning of this chapter, we hear Paul expounding his defense. If these so-called super-apostles have a reason to boast Paul has even more reasons to boast. But his boast takes on an entirely different hue. He can boast about his superlative gifts and abilities even more so than the false teachers. But surprisingly he boasts not in his strengths but in his weaknesses. Why? Because God strength is made perfect through Paul’s weaknesses! Isn’t that astounding?
And this is right where Paul points to his personal affliction. Whatever it is serves to make Paul miserable with respect to His personal abilities. He even asks the Lord to remove the affliction. But that isn’t what God has in mind for Paul. You see, this affliction is allowed by God to prevent Paul from becoming exceedingly proud and puffed up by the divine revelations He was receiving. Weakness, however, is not what the super-apostles boast in. No, they are so far above Paul that they have no afflictions at all.
But understand this: God had made Paul a vessel for carrying the Good News to the Gentiles (which He gave to Paul by revelation). God keeps Paul an honorable and usable vessel by allowing this affliction to remain. Thereby Paul can only revel in his own weaknesses: beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, anxiety for the churches. These all serve to keep Paul from boasting in his own ability. Let me say this another way: Paul’s strength as an apostle comes not from what He made of himself. His apostolic (and true) strength is God alone! So, I pose this question for us:
What, in Fact, Is Our True Strength?
When God calls us to be His disciples, His own treasured people, He does so, not because of our personal strengths like the talents, abilities, attitudes, or insights we might have. These He gives to us as He desires in accordance with the grace we have been given. Paul says it this way: "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3, ESV)
I. We all could probably identify several personal strengths.
A. Paul had some admirable, God-given personal strengths.
Two that may be highlighted are Paul’s missionary passion and his amazing perseverance. On three separate missionary trips, Paul took the message of Christ’s death and resurrection to countless people all over the Roman Empire. When his message (received from God) was not being well received, like in Lystra, (e.g., Acts 14:19–20), he didn’t give up, but moved on and continued his effort. In the chapter before our text, Paul offers a litany of his experiences as a servant of Christ (2 Cor 11:23–29). “Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” (v 29). Nevertheless, he was able to deal with all he experienced because of the amazing spirit of perseverance that God had given him. Both Paul’s passion for mission and his perseverance to keep going were God-given strengths.
B. You, too, have important, God-given personal strengths.
The psalmist writes, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (139:14). Each person, each member of the body of Christ, has been gifted and talented all to the glory of God. While it is true that we all daily sin much and are indeed “poor, miserable sinner[s]” as we confess in our worship (LW, p. 136), we don’t want the “poor” and “miserable” characteristics of our sinful human nature be all we acknowledge or see. God-given strengths are indeed appropriate to have, but not for boasting. You see, those strengths are not properly ours. They are given by God!
Too many times we rely on our professional abilities, our talents, our good nature, our parenting skills, our generosity for charitable contributions, or our acts of service and conclude that on the basis of these we have something to offer to God. And while our personal strengths need not be ignored and can be used effectively for God’s purposes, they are never sufficient in and of themselves. And they certainly do not justify us before God!
II. True strength requires seeing our weaknesses.
A. Now what kind of wisdom is that? Does that not sound like a very negative message? Negative as the world thinks, for sure. Negative as God thinks though, never! Why never; because true strength (God’s strength) is perfected in our human weaknesses!
So, to keep Paul from giving himself credit for the extraordinary events he experienced, the Lord allowed what Paul calls a “thorn in [his] flesh” (v 7). Whatever this was, it caused him to see his weakness all the more, driving him to rely daily on the power of God so that he might see his strength, not as his own, but God’s (vv 8–10).
B. So, my friends, what are our strengths? In what do we make our boast: This building; the Trinity Foundation; the marvelous pipe organ; the choirs; the order of worship? These could all be gone yet today, and our true strength would remain inviolate.
III. Our true strength is none of our personal strengths, but Christ.
Daily life brings constant reminders of some of our greatest weaknesses—impatience, greed, selfishness, thanklessness, and so on. All of these and more are characteristics of our sinful nature. All of these are characteristics of the imperfect, sinful, and weak world in which we live. However, over and against life’s weaknesses, is the strength of our risen and victorious Lord and Savior, who brings to us the strength of his mercy, love, forgiveness, peace, and hope. Recognizing the frailties and weaknesses of our humanity, the writer of Hebrews says: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Heb 4:15). Now this doesn’t mean that the Lord sympathizes by feeling our pain. No, He sympathizes by actually taking into Himself all our weaknesses, and He has overcome them thoroughly by the cross. No wonder Scripture says this: “Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord’ ” (1 Cor 1:31).
Conclusion: So, I ask again: How should we measure our strengths as a congregation? What do you consider to be our strengths, and why? And as you think about your answers to these questions bear in mind that our greatest weaknesses reveal God’s greatest strengths. His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weakness. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.