When Our Weakness becomes Strength

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. - (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

Few people I know can readily admit that they’re weak.

In living the worldly life, I have noticed that it has become increasingly difficult for one to admit to making mistakes. Not only is making mistakes a sign of weakness, but it also entails cost: the cost of correcting that mistake.

And for the worldly, cost is everything.

If all that a worldly person is concerned about is making a profit, anything that detracts from profit therefore, is not to be desired.

Consider the example of a corporation: that entity which best represents the worldly life. Seldom would you see a corporation voluntarily admit to making mistakes, much less take the effort of correcting them. Legions of corporate lawyers are hired for the sole purpose of defending against people who would point out the corporation’s mistakes.

Have you ever tried reading through the fine print of a corporate waiver of liabilities or license agreement? I am told that these are deliberately long, vague and tedious to read for the layperson, so that he/she will be discouraged from interpreting what it truly means.

For laid deep within the legal jargon is a simple yet powerful disclaimer: “that as much as legally possible, the corporation will NOT be responsible for its mistakes.” In fact, if the corporation would have it their way, they will not accept responsibility for ANY mistake whatsoever.

Mistakes cost money. Mistakes eat away at profit. And for a corporation, profit IS everything.

Therefore, a corporation will do its best NOT to admit to any mistakes.

For this reason, corporations are NEVER to be considered paragons of moral and ethical behavior. Look to them for innovation. Look to them for examples of efficiency and resource management. But never ethics.

For the basis of ethical behavior is grounded in the premise that people ARE liable for their mistakes. 

To produce people who readily admit to making mistakes and take responsibility for them is the goal of any ethical civilization.

And that is what the Kingdom of Heaven is: the ultimate state of civilization where the highest ethical and moral values are upheld.

Those who concern themselves only with profit will find it hard to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. For as the Messiah, who calls Himself Lord of that Kingdom says:

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. - (Matthew 6:24 NIV)

Why is it that the we should seek profit in the first place?

Because we have been led to believe that the accumulation of worldly wealth can provide security against our fears.

What are these fears?

The fear of rejection. The fear of suffering. The fear of loss.

And chief among these fears is the fear of death.

Nothing motivates the worldly more than the fear of death.

For we all know that death is a harsh taskmaster. Death waits for no one. Death comes for everyone. To death we must all give an account. Nothing else in this world has a finality attached to it that is so total, so irrevocable, as that accounting.

And so we work and toil in vain to try and escape death. Though many of humanity’s mightiest have surrounded themselves with the greatest of worldly wealth, the best they have done against death is to just delay its inevitability.

Rich and poor. Young and old. Strong and weak. Saint and sinner. Death does not discriminate against them, for death comes for them all.

It is ironic that death would be the common factor that unites all of humanity together.

For to be human is to die.

If all the reward we get for living our lives on this earth is death, what then does anything matter?

What does it matter that I strive to admit my mistakes and correct them? Would it not be far better for me to enjoy life as much as I can? Why waste time dwelling on my mistakes? What do I care for accountability? What do I care for ethics or morality? Am I not entitled to live a life of pleasure? Let the strong prey on the weak! Let the poor be a slave to the rich! Let the guilty and innocent both go free! For in the end there is no distinction between them.

Death comes for us all.

The certainty of death makes us slaves to it, for we are slaves to that which we fear the most.

A slave does not have rights. A slave cannot make choices. When a slave’s master calls, he has to come and do the master’s bidding.

A slave has no freedom.

Death therefore, is master of the worldly, for there is no freedom from death.

And therein lies the salvation offered by the Christ.
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. - (Romans 6:9 NIV)

The Gospel of Life testifies to the significance of the risen Christ:

Death is NOT our master.

For there is SOMEONE GREATER than death.

As the Christ testifies:

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. - (Matthew 10:28 NIV)

And so our fear of death is revealed for what it truly is: a capital sin.

For it is not death whom we should fear. It is not death whom we should call master. To do so would be to commit idolatry against The One whom we should fear.

And the testimony of Christ reveals the One who is greater than death. It is to Him and to him alone we must give an account.

And He is worthy.

For unlike death, He is NOT indiscriminate.

As He says of those loyal to Him:

"They will be My people," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "On the day when I act in judgment, they will be My own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." - (Malachi 3:17-18 NLT)

Our loyalty to Him does not result in slavery, but in freedom: freedom from fear itself.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." - (Romans 8:15 NIV)

A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. - (John 8:35-36 NLT)

And if He who is greater than death rewards loyalty with freedom, where then is our weakness? Where then is our fear?

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  - (Romans 8:31 NLT)

So do not mourn you who humble themselves before the Living God. Do not weep for those who give up their lives in His service. Do not cringe when the worldly laugh and mock you. Do not be ashamed that they would call your faith in Him a weakness.

For He who is Lord even over death is faithful.

In our weakness, He becomes our strength.

Soli Deo Gloria.