Better to be weak and needy than . . .

 

2 Samuel 20; Psalms 75–76; Ezekiel 27; 2 Corinthians 13

The Christians in Corinth who scorned Paul’s ministry probably did it because they didn’t like anyone correcting them. They were living in the flesh without realizing that the power of God was not present in their self-centered confidence. Paul told them that God’s power was perfected in weakness, but they, like most of us, don’t like to feel weak. For them, weakness didn’t make sense compared to their self-centered confidence. Paul told them:

“If I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:6–10)

In today’s chapter, Paul continues to avoid making himself the focus of his thoughts on God’s power. Instead, he again points to the Lord and how this principle of strength in weakness was ultimately displayed at the Cross:

“He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.” (2 Corinthians 13:3–4)

What do people see when they look at a Christian who is weak in him or herself but is powerful in Jesus Christ? From these passages, it seems that what others see depends on the lenses they are wearing. That is, the Christians he was writing to were convinced that speaking well, having prominent gifts, and the bearing of self-confidence means God’s power is present. However, this was not so from the viewpoint of many others whose Christian lives were affected by this man. He was beloved, considered a powerful man of God even though he was not physically strong or an eloquent speaker.

“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5)

Paul decided on Jesus as his only source for anything. That means that he gave up on all his own strengths and anything that might have made him look ‘qualified’ in leadership or able to do anything significant. He choose ‘weakness’ by choosing to know Christ Jesus and His righteousness. He said:

“I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:4–11)

APPLY: God teaches me to ignore the well-wishers who say, “You can do it” and instead go to Him on bended knee with, “Lord, I cannot do this; I need You . . . .” No matter the problem, big or small, easy or difficult, Paul and the entire Bible reveals to me that knowing God through faith in Jesus Christ means realizing that I cannot live without Him.

Not me, but Christ alone

In the early eighties, my husband and I spent several months learning how to present the Gospel. The church we attended had many first-time visitors who were asked to fill in a visitor’s card, giving us contact information so the teams in this outreach program could visit and share the Gospel with them.

At that time, I thought a good argument would do it, that I could persuade people to believing using logic. My mentors were not happy with me, but it took an unusual situation to put me on the right track.

I met a woman who was in a bad situation. Her husband left her with several children, no money, and poor health. She was unable to work and was selling a drafting table. I answered her ad and we became friends. I took her shopping, babysat the two smallest boys to give her a break, and did a lot of listening. One Sunday, our son wasn’t feeling well so I stayed home with him while the family went to church. He was busy playing a game so I decided to call this woman. One thing led to another and I gave her the Gospel presentation I’d been taught — only I messed it up — thoroughly. Nothing I said was logical or made sense.

She listened. She became a Christian. I was stunned. Her life changed dramatically, and from that time on, I knew that the power of God’s good news was not in the ability of the person who shared it, but in the message itself. It was exactly as Paul wrote about his own life:

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)

“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5)

Not only is this true, it is true for a reason — God is glorified. No one can boast that they “led so-and-so to the Lord” for it is the Lord who brings people to Himself. If human beings have any eloquence at all, it is a gift from God, not a talent to boast about or flaunt as if He had nothing to do with it.

But God does not need eloquence. The truth is, God isn’t interested in my ‘wisdom’ or in my ‘strengths’ because nothing I have is mine, and even if it were, none of it can be compared to the power of God.

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

I’ve lost touch with that friend who God saved that day and only know that the Lord transformed her life. He blessed her and took care of her, even used a foolish, weak, and pride-filled person to do it. And He used her to knock the stuffing out of my self-sufficiency.

^^^^^^

Jesus, You are the most awesome, most wise God. You can humble and raise up at the same time, use fools for Your purposes, and give each of us exactly what we need to look up to You and boast in You alone.