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As I helped my nephew with his resume, I asked him about the typical things one would want to highlight—accomplishments, clubs and organizations, and any work experience he had.
We worked for hours crafting the wording and refining it carefully. When he said, “I was a cashier,” we wrote it as, “Delivered exceptional customer service and was responsible for accurately handling monetary transactions.”
We were trying to get him hired. We wanted to focus on the highlights, and if there were any negatives, we found a way to spin them into a positive.
Because that’s what you do when you put your resume out there, isn’t it?
Well, Paul had a slightly different approach.
“If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.”
—2 Corinthians 11:30
Why would Paul do that?
Because he wanted to be sure that it was God receiving the glory, not him.
In this chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul is speaking to the believers in Corinth about false teachers. He was astonished and angry that although he had invested time with them and taught them the truth, they had turned from that truth and were following these false teachers.
Paul stated that these false teachers were fools. They bragged about themselves and what they had done for the Lord. And if that’s what it took to reach these people, Paul would boast too.
But Paul didn’t say, “Look at me and my accomplishments.” He instead shared the trials and suffering he had endured to bring them the truth.
“in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”
Paul made great sacrifices to share the gospel. These false teachers could not claim the same.
He knew that in his weakness—through his suffering—when people came to know the Lord, it would be from God alone. The power of God would be on display for all to see.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10
“Each time He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Every day, you read these stories I share. Why should you believe me? It’s not because of how great I am or anything I’ve done. I am nobody special—just a regular person. The only good in me is Christ. If I boast, let it be in Christ. He is the One who leads me in what to write. He is the One who changed me completely. Jesus transformed my heart.
Less of me and more of Jesus.
Do you want to know Him? Do you want to have a relationship with Him like Paul did? Do you want Jesus to transform your heart?
Go to follow.lifeword.org, and let me show you.
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