Have you ever
noticed that often at the very moment you feel spiritually dedicated and
strong, you get hit with a wave of temptation or hardship? First, let’s not be
fooled, it’s the “good” and “perfect” gifts that come from God (James 1:16-17).
This was written right after a segment about how it’s the devil who sends us
temptations. But then, there’s the truth that struggles make us stronger,
trials make us tougher, and problems make us patient (James 1:2-4). There’s a
principle at work here that Christians should notice: God is ok with our
weaknesses, because when we acknowledge them, He can do great things with
them...and with us.
As a prime
example of this idea, Paul wrote (and lived) this: “If
I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (2 Corinthians
11:30). But, I’m tough, rich, popular, powerful, and beautiful. If you boast in
these things, you are none of them. So, how does this work?
Paul
said that the only boasting to be done should be about Christ…or our own
weaknesses. He told of how he had some
physical problem that he wanted the Lord to remove so that he could be
stronger…better. To which Jesus replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:5-10). The bottom line
is, only when you are ready to humble yourself and exalt Christ can you ever be
strong. God uses the foolish, the weak, the low, and the despised to show His
might so that “no human being might boast in the presence of God (1 Corinthians
1:27-29).
So, "Let
not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his
might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast
in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices
steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I
delight, declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
----Darrell
Powell
