March 10, 2024
I want to ask you a personal question, I hope that’s alright. Did you ever get caught doing something wrong? Now here’s another question: when you were caught doing something wrong, how many of you were sorry? Were you sorry you did something wrong? Or were you sorry that you got caught? Because there is a difference!
When I was a kid, it seemed like adults, my parents, and neighbors, had eyes in the back of their heads. If you did something wrong and they didn’t see, they were like ace detectives, they got you to talk.
My friend Wanda lived in an apartment near me. One day we were playing together. Her mom had to go somewhere, so Wanda was with me at my house. Wanda really wanted to get into her apartment for something, but the door was locked. I was with her. She cut the screen window and got in! I told her I didn’t think this was a good idea. Later the police were investigating because her mom found this cut window screen. How did this happen? My parents asked me. I told them the truth! I was sorry, because everyone found out, sorry that I was in trouble with my parents! I didn’t think I should get in trouble for it.
That’s a very good thing I got in trouble! It’s best to admit your weakness.
We are continuing our series on the surprising power of the cross. We’re talking today about weakness. What should we do about our weakness, vulnerability and sin?
Being weak is unavoidable. It’s an everyday part of our existence. It’s waiting for a test result from your doctor, not knowing if it will be good or bad, or reaching out to a friend who had a loved one die and you’re worrying about what to say. It’s asking your boss for time off, not knowing if you’ll get it. We can spend a lot of effort trying to excuse our weaknesses, trying to look like we’re strong, acting like everything’s ok even when it’s not. We might try to argue with whoever says that we have a problem. We try to avoid our weakness. But what if weakness can be a good thing?
Jesus didn’t offer his followers greatness. Instead, he offered the cross. He said if any want to be my disciples, they should deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.
The Apostle Paul became a Christian missionary, starting churches, visiting them, and writing letters to encourage and teach them. The church in Corinth was a church Paul started. Because Corinth was destroyed 200 years before, then inhabited again 100 years later, its citizens were from many different places and had an independent spirit. Corinthians were more democratic than many other cities and didn’t like others taking control. The independent spirit carried over into the church Paul founded. Christians there liked to pick their favorite leader in the church and line up behind them in competition with all others.
Some people in the church in Corinth didn’t like Paul. They said he writes good letters, but when he visits the church, he is unimpressive and a bad speaker. Not only did some criticize Paul, they also were open to someone preaching a different gospel, about a different Jesus and a different Holy Spirit. There were false apostles that some in the church liked.
It seems these false apostles showed up at the church boasting of their spiritual greatness. Paul says, if you want to boast, I can boast too. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? It’s crazy to boast, Paul says, but I’ve served more. Been in prison more times, beaten, hungry, thirsty, shipwrecked, going without food.
Paul says in 1 Cor. 11: 29-30 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
There! Paul said, I am weak, I am a sinner. I will boast about my weakness. Then he goes on to talk about the thorn in his flesh. We don’t know what this thorn is: maybe a painful physical problem, or something spiritual, like feeling weak and vulnerable, and not up to the task at hand. Paul went there. When he was criticized as a church leader, he said, “I’m weak.”
Paul said he didn’t like his thorn in his flesh. Three times he asked God to get rid of it. In 1 Cor. 12:9 Paul says, “But the Lord 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Paul sees the good in weakness. When he finds himself criticized and questioned in the church, he leans into his weakness. He admits he is weak! Because people know he is weak, they can tell God’s power is at work through him. He is just Paul, so God must have helped him! All that Paul accomplished for Christianity shows that God worked through him. When we are weak, the power of God works through us!
When Paul talks about his weakness, you can tell he is a real, authentic human being. In 2 Corinthians, Paul is wounded by criticism, humble, and he cares deeply about the church members coming to know Christ and about the good of the church.
What happened after Paul wrote this letter, 2 Corinthians? Paul made another visit to Corinth. This letter, 2 Corinthians, is part of our Bible. If the church had said, “No, we don’t like Paul.” They would not have kept his letter. The letter would not be in our Bible. So, we can be confident that the church treasured Paul’s words, his words about his weakness.
Isn’t that the way it goes? You might be impressed by someone’s strengths. But you connect with them, you like them because they are honest and real and humble enough to admit their weakness. The church in Corinth thought, Paul’s not perfect, but I like him! He loves us, he loves God, and God has really worked in amazing ways through him!
Paul did amazing things. But only by relying on Christ and not on himself. Paul had a spiritual power that helped others to know God. He never sought to dominate or control others or claim superiority. God’s power was made perfect in Paul’s weakness.
My challenge for you this week is to think of a weakness you have, and how that could be a strength. Maybe you had cancer, and it means you feel deep compassion for others who have cancer. Think of a weakness you have, and how God has worked through it.
We’d all like the world to think we are strong, self-sufficient, that everyone likes and admires us, we never need help and we’re always right. But nobody likes a person like that. They don’t make a difference for good and for God. We’re blessed that God has made us weak, because in our weakness, God’s power is made perfect. Amen.
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