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The Opportunity of Infirmities 2 Corinthians 11:30 Elder Thomas L. Waters
Frances Havergal wrote - “Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.” Isaiah said unto God - “Here am I; send me.” (6:8) Eli told Samuel to say unto the Lord - (1 Sam 3:9) "Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” Mary said - (Luke 1:38) "be it unto me according to thy word." Each of these statements expresses a desire and willingness to serve God. Moreover, each of these quotations expresses a deep desire of every Christian believer - to serve God. Our desires to serve God, however, often do not match our opportunities. Let me explain.
Consider the example of the Gaderene demonic Christ healed. You remember the account. This man was pitiful. He lived in the tombs and night and day he would cry out and cut himself with stones. Because of his wild behavior, other men had tried to bind him with shackles and chains, but all attempts to confine him had failed. His condition was beyond the ability of man to help. One day, as the Lord Jesus Christ stepped out of a boat onto the shores of Gadara, this wild man met him. In a matter of minutes and by speaking a few words, Christ Jesus accomplished what no other man could do. He healed this man. As the Lord prepared to sail away from that region, the man whom He had healed begged to go Him. Surely this is an understandable desire. To go with, be with and serve the Saviour who had healed him. Christ, however, did not permit this man to leave with Him. The Lord told him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." (Mark 5:19) This man’s opportunity of service did not align with his desire to serve.
In like fashion, as believers we often dream of serving Christ our Lord in some noble way, but He calls us to serve daily. We desire to achieve great things, but our Lord often calls us to service in the mundane. We want happiness and prosperity and peace, but Christ calls us faithfully to bear a cross. It reminds me of the words of the prayer:
“I asked God for strength, that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
2 Corinthians is a deeply personal book. Sidlow Baxter writes of 2 Corinthians, “It was written with a quill dipped in tears, from the apostle’s anguish of heart” (Explore the Book, 121). Baxter’s words are not mere conjecture for the Apostle Paul himself said, "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears" (2 Cor 2:4). The book of 2 Corinthians was written not by a theologian from an ivory tower, but from the battlefield by a soldier of Christ. No doubt, this is an epistle which many of God’s pastors wounded in service can relate to.
2 Corinthians is a defense of Paul’s integrity, ministry and apostleship. One writer notes, “Since Paul’s first letter, the Corinthians had been swayed by false teachers who stirred the people against Paul. They claimed he was fickle, proud, unimpressive in appearance and speech, dishonest, and unqualified as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.” (Holy Bible, NKJV, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1014). Paul asks the Corinthians, "Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?" (2 Cor 3:1). Toward the end of the book, Paul asserts, "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you‑ward is not weak, but is mighty . . .Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"(13:3,5).
An example of some charges levied against Paul by the Corinthians is evident in 1:15-17. In these verses, Paul speaks about his failed plans to come to Corinth. Charles Hodges comments, “His having changed his purpose was made the ground of twofold charge against him; first, of levity, and secondly, of inconsistency; saying one thing and doing another; or saying one thing at one time, and the opposite at another” (Geneva Series Commentary on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 394). At stake, however is more than Paul’s reputation. The integrity of the gospel and the spiritual well-being of the Corinthian believers are what compels Paul to mount his defense. Paul said, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor 11:3 KJV).
Beyond being a defense of his calling and character, 2 Corinthians is a treatise on the subject of suffering and the opportunity of infirmities. In fact, the main evidence Paul proffers for his apostleship are his oft infirmities. Notice, for example, 2 Cor 1:5, 8; 4:7-11; 11:22-28 and, of course, 12:7.
Paul is in an unwanted and awkward position. For the well-being of the Corinthian church and the honor of the gospel, Paul must defend his own integrity and his calling. As we all realize, there is an inseparable bond between the messenger and the message. Paul must do something repulsive to himself. He is forced to commend himself. You recall how Paul said to the Galatians, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal 6:14). Yet, to the Corinthians he said, "If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities" (2 Cor 11:30).
In chapter 10, Paul speaks about his authority (vs 8) and the evils of self-commendation (vs 12, 17-18). In chapter 11, he expresses concern for the Corinthian’s faithfulness (vs 3-4), asserts his apostleship (vs 5-6), and speaks about his work in Corinth (7-9). In verses 12-15 of chapter 11, Paul explains some of his actions in Corinth. Then, in verses 16-22, he engages in what we might call reluctant boasting. Charles Hodges writes,
The apostle apologizes for the self-commendation which was forced upon him . . . so repugnant was this task to his feelings, that he not only humbly apologizes . . . but he finds it difficult to do what he felt must be done. He over and over begins what he calls his boasting, and immediately turns aside to something else: (Ibid., 625).
Yet notice of what Paul boasts, - his infirmities! "If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities" (2 Cor 11:30 KJV). The false apostles and teachers boasted in their pedigrees and degrees, in their popularity and eloquent oration skills, but Paul speaks about his sufferings and weaknesses.
Along life’s journey, particularly as maturing Christians, we come to realize we are not invincible - (Psa 102:11) "My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass." Not only do we learn we are not invincible, we also learn we are not in control of circumstances and conclusions - (John 21:18) "When you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to be.” Not only do we learn we are not control, as believers we grow in our understanding that we are not even independent - (John 15:5) “for without me ye can do nothing.” Hopefully, even as we grow in knowledge of our limitations, we correspondingly grow in knowledge of and trust in our great God - of His sovereignty, sufficient grace of His pitiful mercies.
The same Psalmist who said he was withered like grass also said - (Psa 102:12) "But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations." Peter who did not control his future said, (2 Pet 3:13) "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." And the believer, although dependent on Christ, can produce much fruit. (John 15:5) “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit”
Growing in trust of God, however, is not an independent accident. It is most often closely tied to adversity. Just as a child learns to walk by falling, believers learn by failures. Believers grow in trust and confidence of God as those things we tend to trust in (be it our strength, intellect, health, job . . . ) are assaulted and fail. Believers learn to love God more deeply as we experience the hurt of betrayal of false love and the limitations of genuine love. Believers desire God’s will more as we experience the disappointments that so often result from having our way. Such believers become living witnesses of a loving and sufficient God. Such believers need not advertise or brag of their faith, for no one discovers it in a pedigree, degree or popularity. Rather, it is found and declared through the furnace of adversity. (2 Cor 1:3‑5 KJV) "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; {4} Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. {5} For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."
Thus Paul, when forced to defend his calling and office looked not to his heritage or education, but his infirmities in the flesh. Paul declares, “For when I am weak, then am I strong” How unlike so much of the so-called theology of today!
Many of us are in places of unique opportunities to serve the Lord and magnify His grace. Some are grievously sick. Some are dealing with soul-exasperating domestic problems. Some are lonely and/or bereaved. None of these things may be the direct result of being a believer, but all these things are opportunities to serve God. Yes, in our weakness, infirmities, sorrows, and tribulations we have a unique opportunity to serve our Lord. Some of us would get in the boat with Jesus and leave the shores where we are. But Jesus says no! Stay where you are. Serve as you are - My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” So may we say with Paul . . . "If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities." (2 Cor 11:30 KJV)
No Scar? No Wound? Author Unknown
Hast thou no scar? No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand? I hear the sung as mighty in the land, I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star: Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound? Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned; Hast thou no wound?
No wound? No scar? Yet, as the master shall the servant be, And pierced are the feet that follow Me; But thine are whole; can he have followed far Who hast nor wound nor scar? |
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