All of us enjoy boasting about certain things in our life. Some might call it bragging. We are proud of something or several things that have happened over the years. It might be our wonderful marriage, great school grades for our children, athletic accomplishments, awesome job with extremely high pay…the list can be endless. It makes us feel good, important, like we belong, maybe even superior to others. I would propose that some are really good things, while others can be really tainted with pride; in fact, most boasting is bathed in pride.
When one looks at scripture, it doesn’t take long to comprehend that God’s kingdom is an upside down one. It’s not of this world type. But would you go so far as to take joy in boasting about some of your setbacks in your life? Most people like to sweep these under the rug. But what does God say about all of this? Let’s look at Paul’s life. He had some form of a thorn in his flesh. He begged God, as it is recorded, three times to remove it from him. This is where it gets extremely interesting.
‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness”’ (1 Cor. 12.9a). I told you that God’s kingdom is an upside down one. Paul was convinced of this and look at his reaction. ‘Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ, may you rest upon me’ (vs. 9b). Not just boasting, but more gladly. Paul has suddenly found the secret to victorious living in Christ. By boasting in his weaknesses. Now let’s see what he finally says in light of what God revealed to him. You gotta love this!
‘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’ (vs. 10). Do you see this? Content in all that he has experienced, and is going to face. And these issues are because of his stance for Christ in proclaiming the gospel. He knew the Beatitudes for sure. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt. 5.10-12).
And we should remind ourselves that Paul was the elite of the elite in the Jewish world. Highly educated, Pharisee of Pharisee, selected to persecute the Christians. So much about which to boast. His heart, mind and soul had now been converted by his encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. He no longer was relying on his past pedigree or remembering how he had persecuted Christ through the Christians. He was looking forward, and whatever trials came he was going to boast all the more gladly in them. Why, because Christ’s power was able to work in and through him. He was no longer relying on his own power. Paul got it. The question is, have we?
I’ll close with the words of Paul to the Philippians. ‘But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 3.12-14). That’s the mindset all of us should have. And whatever happens, we can say with Paul, bring it on!!