by Pastor Rich Carlson

Paul spends a lot of time in this letter apparently trying to defend his actions and explain his situation in life. He went through a lot, much of it not so good, as he gave himself to the work of God. It wasn’t always glamorous and it wasn’t always easy. He had been imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, stoned—the list goes on (11:23-28). If that wasn’t enough he was given a “thorn in the flesh" (12:7)!  And you know what reason he gave for all this—“To keep me from becoming conceited!" (12:7)

I’m not sure if God gives “thorns” but Paul and I both agree that God is capable of taking them away! In Paul’s case, however, God didn’t! He simply said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” And Paul’s response was, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (12:10)

He explains the effect of the trials he faced in life: “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (11:30). He had a lot to boast of for his day—a Hebrew, an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, and a servant of God (11:22, 23). His life had turned around and great things were happening everywhere he went, thanks to God’s blessings. Yet life was not always good and that seemed to be playing its part in perfecting his character—a different experience than he wanted, maybe, but working just the same.

And what was Paul’s conclusion?
• I need to keep being made weak in Him—it’s so easy to boast of my own accomplishments, but doing so comes to nothing (12:1, 5)
• I need to keep learning to live by His power and not mine (12:9,10)
• I will know if it’s working if I use His blessings and leading and perfecting in my life for only one purpose—to serve you! (12:14-15)

I like his focus. It reminds me that self-centeredness and self-boasting do not accomplish God’s goals in my life. It reminds me that it may take some tough spots in life’s road to remind me or teach me these lessons. It reminds me that when I get it straight I’ll know it because I am focusing on the needs of others.

Just before he ends this letter, Paul sums it all up: “The authority that God gave me is for building you up, not tearing you down” (see 12:19). Tearing down is what happens when I am focusing on myself, boasting in who I am, taking you down so I look better. It sounds like the “powerful” thing to do, but it doesn’t work.

My job, which God gives to me and empowers me to perform, is to build you up. Imagine what would happen if empowering others, building others up, became our focus. Imagine.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.