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God says 'My grace is sufficient for you'
Read : 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (NIV)
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes
'The Lord said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" . . . therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong'.
Over the last few decades, a distinctive teaching has emerged in certain parts of the Christian Church. Although it peaked in popularity in the 1980's it still has an influence in certain kinds of church today.
Variously known as 'The Prosperity Gospel', 'Prosperity Theology' or 'The Success Gospel' the basic doctrine it teaches is that if an individual places their faith in Jesus, confesses that faith publicly and positively, and donates to the work of various Christian ministries (including - of course - many so-called tele-evangelists) then these individuals will experience financial prosperity, economic security, success, health and happiness.
In effect, this teaching is really suggesting that if we have faith in God, remain in his will and donate to what we are told is his work, then we will inevitably and invariably experience success, wealth, health and happiness.
It all sounds rather appealing really!
Except, of course, that it is entirely contrary to the teaching of the Bible, the message of Jesus and the experience of so many faithful and obedient servants of God.
Take Paul as an example. In the passage which immediately precedes the one above from 2 Corinthians, Paul describes some of his experiences as an Apostle of Jesus Christ; experiences such as imprisonment, floggings, stoning, shipwrecks, toil, hardship, being without food or warmth or clothing.
It is all rather far removed from the notion that if we love Jesus and are faithful and generous servants of God then everything will go well for us.
Success, security, health, wealth and happiness? Try telling that to Paul!
You would be hard pushed to find a more faithful, dedicated, passionate or sacrificial servant of Jesus and yet Paul's experience is of privation, rejection, danger . . . and - as we heard from today's passage - of physical infirmity and unanswered prayer.
'a thorn was given me in the flesh' he tells us 'three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said "My grace is sufficient for you"' . . .
In today's Epistle passage, Paul is reflecting on his own brokenness, his waning ability to cope with some unnamed infirmity or problem which he calls a 'thorn in the flesh'. Three times he petitioned God to relieve him of the issues that plagued him; and three times, God did not do as Paul had asked and prayed, but instead reminded him that his grace was sufficient.
We do not know what Paul's thorn was. We are not told. There has been much speculation.
Some have suggested that it was an irritating or difficult person.
Others have wondered if it was a personality trait or a character flaw which deeply disturbed him, while others conjecture that it was some moral failure or persistent temptation.
But most commentators suggest (and I would tend to agree) that is most likely that Paul's thorn in the flesh was a physical disability or health condition. And elsewhere in his letters there is evidence to suggest that he had some constant physical disability or ongoing health issues.
But we are not told and I am not sure that it matters. Indeed, I suspect that we may not be meant to know exactly what Paul's thorn in the flesh was. In not knowing, we can all identify with it and with him.
For we all struggle with weaknesses of some kind or another; health challenges, awkward relationships, financial difficulties, career disappointments, character traits, persistent temptation, moral failure, physical limitations. Like Paul we may have pleaded with God time and again to take the weakness or irritation away . . . but still we struggle with our own 'thorn in the flesh'.
For me this is an issue and a passage of the bible which has a very real resonance both pastorally and personally.
Pastorally because I regularly meet, talk to and pray with folks who are facing some hardship, struggle or testing . . . sometimes a heavy burden to carry, or a constant worry, or some health issue. To any such, how unbearably cruel and insensitive it would be to suggest that health, wealth, success and happiness were inevitable and invariable outcomes of following Jesus, confessing him as Lord and fully serving him. The so-called 'prosperity Gospel' would suggest that they had spiritually failed in some way. What heartless and unbiblical nonsense.
But in the openness of Paul who - here and elsewhere in his letters - shares with us his struggles, is unafraid to be honest regarding his personal difficulties, and who had some ongoing issue which, in spite of his repeated prayers, was not removed, there is the hope and the possibility of seeing our struggles in a different light, and finding a different kind of answer from God; one that may enable us to bear the burden and just possibly even discern within our situation something which - with God - can be turned to good purpose.
'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'.
And, as you may realise, this passage has resonance for me personally in the face of my own present and ongoing health concerns.
The words of God to Paul, have for me become very important words in which I have found comfort, hope and strength.
'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'.
But let us not think that what this means is that we've just got to accept whatever infirmity, weakness, disappointment or difficulty we face, smile and say 'well, it must be God's will'?
Far from it!
Whatever his 'thorn it he flesh' was, Paul did not simply accept it, passively resign himself to it, shrug his shoulders and say 'well, que sera sera' it must be God's will.
Not at all!
Three times he goes back to God, three times he pleads with God, three times he appeals to God to take away this thorn in the flesh.
But almost as if insult were being added to injury, these earnest pleas are not answered. God does not do what Paul asked and pleaded. God did not answer Paul's prayers in the way in which Paul desperately wished.
Most of us will know something about unanswered prayer!
As you might expect and may imagine, I have prayed about my health and situation. I have asked questions of God. I have disagreed with God over it. I have got angry with God because of it. I have complained to God about it. I have prayed as someone who firmly and fully believes in answered prayer, who has witnessed, ministered and received healing in other situations.
And yet, things remain as they are.
As also they did for Paul.
In spite of his earnest prayers and pleas, God did not remove his thorn in the flesh. Paul's prayers are unanswered . . . but he does hear God speak to him . . .
'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'.
And astonishingly and amazingly, Paul then goes on to make this most remarkable and challenging statement of faith; 'I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.'
Don't let us make the mistake of thinking that this kind of positive, faith-filled acceptance is the same as mere resignation or fatalism. It is not.
Nor should we imagine it is achieved easily or quickly; for it cannot be. This is not magic.
No. Paul was not initially willing to accept his thorn in the flesh. He pleaded and prayed for its removal.
Paul battled with his issue or weakness, and - it seems - with God.
But even when his prayers went unanswered, he did not give up.
However, beyond these struggles and that praying and the wrestling with God, he hears God speak, and once he has heard God speak, he begins the journey towards acceptance of this infirmity, weakness or flaw.
'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'.
Can we hear that today as God's word to us in the face of whatever weakness we may sense or discern within ourselves? Whatever issue with which we may be battling?
God says 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'.
Don't give up!
God says 'My grace is sufficient for you.'
Prayer
God our wisdom, in the human weakness of your Christ
you have made the light of your Holy Spirit
shine forth in powerful deeds and words.
Strengthen our resolve to keep following in his way,
and let us, in our frailty, know the perfecting of your power,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honour and glory, now and forever. Amen.
| Rev David Denniston, July 2015 |
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