The Privilege of Failure

Romans 7:15-25a

Seventh Sunday After Pentecost

Continuing on our journey through Romans we now come to chapter 7.  These verses at the end of this chapter are so filled with emotion, with the struggle Paul is trying to tell of sin in his life.  In chapter 6 we heard Paul talk about the wonderful gift of Baptism and new life given to us through Christ.  But now we have Paul retelling of his struggle with sin.

In order to make a point in his conversation with a member, a pastor asked this question: “If you had a million dollars, would you be willing to give half of it, $500,000, to the Lord’s work? ” “Yes, pastor, I would give half of it to the Lord, ” the member responded. “Then, ” the pastor went on, “if you had two [vehicles], would you be willing to give one of them to the Lord’s work? ” “No, Pastor, ” the member immediately answered. “Why? ” asked the pastor. “If you would give half a million dollars, why wouldn’t you give one [vehicle] out of two? ” “Because, ” the member sheepishly explained, “I have two [vehicles]. ”[1]

How true it is that when something is not in our possession or far away it is easy for us to make promises.  But when something is close to our heart then the devil works hard at bringing our sinful nature out.  Such is the way of every Christian.  In our baptism we did not escape sin.  We are now not sinless.  One day we will be in heaven, but as long as we are here on earth we will struggle with sin.

The text indicates a number of inadequacies we have a humans. First, human knowledge does not make a person a good person. We are taught and know what is right according to God’s Word and yet we don’t often do what is right.  Mere knowledge doesn’t change us. Second, there is the inadequacy of human resolve. As much as we may try to do what is right or try to turn away from evil, we somehow fall back into our sinful ways. Our human condition and this text point to our inadequacies.  We are failures when it comes to the things of God.  Paul’s words ring true to those who understand our sinful condition, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…For what I do is not the good I want to do; no the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.”[2]

The Bible does an amazing thing when it talks about “Heroes of the Faith.”  It shows their flaws and weaknesses.  In fact it often shows more of their weaknesses then it does their strengths.  This runs contrary to most literature that wants to paint a picture of someone as a hero.  But there is a truth in seeing the weaknesses of others – it is not their strength but God’s.

Abraham grew impatient for God to give him a child in his old age by Sarah, so he took a concubine. When he doubted God’s ability to protect him from those attracted to his wife, Sarah, he lied to protect himself, saying she was his sister.

Moses killed an Egyptian in a fit of rage. Later, he made excuses in an attempt to avoid God’s claim on his life.

The great king David committed adultery and then murdered a man to cover his sin. Later, in pride, he conducted a census just to see how great his kingdom had become.

Solomon took many wives, who eventually led this wise king into idolatry.

Peter denied Jesus three times.

In the mission fields of the early church, John Mark gave up working with Paul, and later Paul and Barnabas quarreled over whether they should take John Mark with them again.

We too give in to our evil inclinations.  We too are trapped in our original sin – sin passed down to us from the first Adam and Eve when they fell into sin in the Garden.  But in each one of these situations, these famous characters of the Bible, we see good things happening too.  How?  Only by God’s strength and ability!

You see it can be a privilege to fail.  Why?  Because it is in our failures that we see that we are truly inadequate to save ourselves and to even lead a good life.  And we recognize that fact we then see that we have to turn outside of ourselves for help.  And where does that help come from?  Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121).  The more we come to the Lord the more we see our shortcomings.  The more we see our shortcomings the more we see our desperate need for salvation.  The more we long for salvation, the stronger we cling to Christ.  He is the only way, truth and life.  We must decrease so Christ can increase.  It is a privilege to fail because then we truly can let God into our life and guide and direct us.

What does Paul say at the end of his heartfelt confession of his sinful state?  “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”[3]  Simple yet profound.  There is no other answer for the wretchedness of our lives in sin.  Christ is the only answer.  When we truly see how helpless we are then we will truly see how desperately we need Christ.

Jesus said in the Gospel lesson for today, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”[4]  Often we use this verse as a comfort for those who are “really down on their luck” in life.  But these words weren’t designed for the worst-case scenarios, it was meant for all of us.  If we truly see our condition as hopeless, humanly speaking. And if we are aware of our sinful lives.  Then we are the ones who are weary and burdened.  We are weighed down by sin and only Christ can offer us rest.  So these words are for us.  Jesus provided for us rest in his saving grace.

So, when you fail, and you will, turn it upside down and look at it as a way that points you to Christ.  When the devil sneaks up on you and reminds you that you are a failure.  When despair and doubt creep in because you see that the good you want to do doesn’t happen.  When temptation strikes and the bad things you know you should not do end up happening anyway.  When you feel like a total failure, turn to the devil and the world and say, “Yes I am a failure.  I am a poor and miserable sinner.  But thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Our failures can be opportunities to grow closer to Christ to trust him more and depend on ourselves less.  The privilege of failure because of Christ!

Amen

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[1] Jack Buck, as related by Rev. Vernon Gundermann, Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, Missouri. Original story used horses instead of vehicles.

[2] Romans 7:15, 21

[3] Romans 7:25a

[4] Matthew 11:28