Thorns to Humble
Read Time: 9 mins
This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 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. 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.
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Have you ever continually fallen into the same traps? You seem to keep running into the same temptations and getting hurt regardless of how hard you try? You may go for a few days without a hiccup but like a sore back it still seems to randomly flare up?
I've spent time asking God why He keeps letting me say things and get into situations I regret? Why won't He just stop me? Why won't He just fix the situations and fix me so I stop hurting myself and others? But I remember one night I felt like God said something interesting back to me. If I didn't have any challenges or I never needed help and could handle everything on my own, I would never turn back to God.
This passage shows us an interesting balancing act God allows in our lives and an explanation for the famous verse, “His strength is made perfect in my weakness.” Paul was that guy. Himmy Neutron. Him Possible. Invader Him. He wrote most of the New Testament, performed many miracles and started many of the first churches. Paul healed people, survived a venomous snake, and was so filled with the Holy Spirit that his handkerchiefs were passed around so that sick people would be healed of chronic diseases and those with demons would be liberated. This is some crazy stuff. Paul was no joke, but those in some of his churches would still doubt his authority because his gifts weren’t always as public or flashy. Paul is giving his credentials in a rather interesting way. Instead of just strong arming and telling people why he is amazing, he starts bragging about his weaknesses.
Paul mentions how he could brag about how he's one of the only people in history to experience heaven and come back. That’s some crazy stuff. He could brag about all the things he's done. He could brag about the churches and movements he's started. But he starts to boast about his weakness because no matter how amazing he is, he doesn't want undo credit. He knows the source. And how does he stay honest and humble under the reality of such success? He keeps his weakness on display.
He mentions how he has been given a thorn. He shifts focus from his accolades to hardship and weakness. He was given a messenger of satan to torment him… and he's happy about this? We aren’t sure if this is as simple as a chorionic disease that was never healed or a temptation and problem that kept coming back. But we do know that Paul is praising God for this burden because it keeps Him focused on the true source of his strength. This weakness reminds him that he really isn't that cool. This weakness reminds him that while he is valued by many and very accomplished, all his power is coming from his connection to God. It’s not about him, and if he forgets that he will lose it all. He cannot sustain success without God. He still needs God as much as the other people he is interacting with.
My friend Mike Owusu said that one time he asked God to show more of Himself in his life. But as a result of this bold prayer, Mike’s life seemed to get worse. Mike said he felt like he was hit and couldn't do anything about it. Life started to get hard. But he said something that sounds crazy but is so spiritually mature. Mike was honest enough to say that in that stage of life, God had to put him flat on his back so that he would have no choice but to look back up at the source of his strength. And I'm wondering if we too should be praising God for our trials like Paul. Some of you may be honest enough to know that if everything was figured out and you had all the control, you would never look to God again. Some of us are honest enough to say that if God continued to use us like He does without reminding us of who we are, we would start to think our success was predicated on our work ethic, skill level, accolades, network, wisdom or background and not God's grace and power. Its not about you and never was!
God is an expert in covering weakness. He will make you look clean on the outside, but sometimes He has to lift the veil to remind you of how dirty you really are without Him. We get too used to being used by God and take it for granted. We get so used to grace and provision that we forget miracles aren't normal.
Sometimes God allows revelations of brokenness to remind you that you need Him! This gift of humility is what allows you to have the power in the first place. If you're honest you know that baby should have been yours. You should still be addicted. That terrible choice should be latest gossip at your school. You know that class shouldn’t have been passed and you could have easily been kicked out of that program. You know you don't really know what you're doing. But God! Don't forget that favor is a miracle! You don't deserve any of this! You aren't the best choice, you aren't the best option, but God. You aren't the smartest, safest, or most sound but God. You wouldn't have picked you but God did!
The Clark Sisters song says, “it could’ve been me. It should’ve been me. It would have been me, if it wasn't for the blood!” And I'm sorry. I know I'm writing and not preaching but I wanna know if there are three people reading this that are honest enough to know that they wouldn't be nothing without Jesus!
This brings up an interesting life principle that we really need to understand. Fruit is predicated on your connection to the vine and not you. It’s so easy to see someone who isnt as flashy or outwardly successful and assume something is wrong with them. On the other hand, it's easy to see someone who has outward acclaim and success but be surprised when they’re human. Spiritual gifts don't dictate spiritual discipline. Some people can sing, play, write, lead, and dream but they will be the first to tell you that they are the most broken. That humility is what keeps them sane. This isn't about you. It’s about God through you. Paul is simultaneously one of the greatest christian men ever but refers to himself as the chief of sinners with recurring problems and unanswered prayers. How would this understanding of grace affect how we viewed ourselves and others in life and ministry?
I'm closing but I want to wrap up this concept with a message to two different groups. The first group feels broken. This group is too aware of their faulitness and not aware enough of God's faithfulness. But God’s grace is sufficient enough to cover your deficiencies. You don’t know how God could want you, let alone use you, and I want to thank you for being honest enough to recognize your individual lack of strength, but I wanna remind you that you aren't on this team alone. If I were to quantify and list the usefulness to God of people in the Bible and modern life, you may actually see a correlation of the most broken people being used by God for the biggest things. They're simultaneously the most broken and the most dependent. And I believe this shows us two things. One, that you are never too gone or broken to be used by God. And two, that those who do more in the kingdom of God are those who realize their faultiness because they don't try to win this on their own! Those who realize they don't know what they’re doing are the first to pass and differ to a better player! That’s why personal weakness equals spiritual strength. When you get out the way you are allowing God space to move! In order for God to do the heavy lifting in your life, you have to admit you need help and get out the way!
The other group sees their fruit. This group is too caught up in the gift and they forget the grace. They see how good at speaking they are and how many people are affected. They know their numbers and read their own press. These people have an addictive confidence and self assurance but are often first to fall because they disconnect from the source of their power. Have you ever met someone who never brings a phone charger with them? They seem to always have a dead phone, yet they never learn from their mistakes. Just because your ministry, career, relationship or finances are popping now, doesn’t mean they can last very long without a charger. As someone who is susceptible to being in this group, I thank God for the weaknesses that remind me that I need Jesus.
Paul knew that it wasn’t about him. He knew God was powering the things he was able to accomplish, and because of that, He stayed connected and was able to accomplish more.
James Jones may be a name you aren't very familiar with but he probably has more NBA championships than your favorite player. James Jones was never the flashiest or most famous but people like Lebron James praise him for being their favorite teammate ever and talk about wanting to save roster spots for James Jones on their teams as they move. James Jones won with Lebron in Miami and Cleavland not because he was the most dominant or talented player, but because he knew how to play his role. James wasn't the best, but he was desired by the best players. You don't have to be the star when the greatest of all time is asking for you to come with him. You don't have to score on your own when the NBA leading scorer is scoring for you. The pressure isn't on you to perform in your own power but the accolades come like you were the one doing the work. James Jones has never been on a team with a losing record and has only missed the playoffs once in his almost 15 year NBA career. Isn't it interesting that you win more when you let better people do the heavy lifting for you? Our thorns remind us that we don't have to be in the driver's seat. They remind us that despite our shortcomings, we are wanted and valued. God doesn't want you to win for Him. He wants you to let Him win for you. Be a role player. Be James Jones and let Lebron win for you.
