City Life Starter

I. The Word: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 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.8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

9 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.

10 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. 

The scripture above has been of particular interest to me this year. The words, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses” is so foreign to me and probably most in our culture. As a pastor, much less a man, it is unheard of to share weakness, but to boast in it is completely preposterous. Isn’t it the number one unspoken rule to only take the best and most fun pictures of yourself doing amazing things online for all to see. At the very least let us see the great food you are eating. Talking about our weaknesses doesn’t help us to project the self image we want people to see. I mean, if people knew how messed up I was they would never want to associate themselves with me. 

I believe Paul realized something we all need to grasp. People admire your achievements, but relate with your weaknesses. Besides, if they can see your achievements while acknowledging that you’re hopelessly flawed, maybe, just maybe, they will give God glory for those achievements instead of looking at you. 

I remember when I was about nine years old I really wanted this video game for my Nintendo. It just so happened to come out around the time of my dad’s birthday. So like any child I assumed he would really want this present as well. My only problem was that I had no money. So, I proceeded to ask my dad for money from him in order to buy a birthday present for him. What a terrific plan. He gives me his money, I buy him a birthday present and we both get a video game to play “together”. 

This scenario is very familiar to God when we achieve or boast in anything. What we often forget to realize though is that the only way we were even able to see success was because He supplied the actual means for it to occur. When we pull back the curtain in our lives and see that every good and perfect gift comes from Him, it actually enables us to give up the front that we are so great. When we can boast in Him first it allows us to boast in our weaknesses as well. Recognizing the true hero of our story allows us to be okay if we are humiliated in the process. We were not supposed to be the focus. He is. 

I’m learning that the more I look to Him, the less I care how people look at me. The opposite is true of course. The more I focus on myself the more concerned I am about how other perceive me. That lifestyle is truly bondage. Bondage to other people’s words and opinions and a shackle that keeps me from ever really becoming the person God wants me to be. Pretending to be perfect always creates a fictional you. Exposing your weaknesses gives God an opportunity to craft you perfectly, warts and all.

I love what Pastor Craig Groschel often says, “People would rather follow a leader who is always real, not one who is always right.” 

1. What does it mean to you to boast in your weaknesses?

2. Are you secure enough and focused on Him enough to boast about those weaknesses?

3. How have you seen God make you strong out of your weaknesses?