If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. – 2 Corinthians 11:30
Paul is boasting. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Paul, who had every human reason to qualify as an apostle, has every right to boast. By human ancestry, he was the seed of Abraham, a pure Hebrew of Judean descent. And yet, Paul calls himself a minister of Christ. Minister comes from the Greek work diakonos which describes a humble servant or a menial worker. And in the verses that follow, Paul explains what qualifies him to be a minister.
Paul says he qualifies to be a minister of Christ because he worked harder than all of them (1 Corinthians 15:10), in contrast to the popular belief, the more the minister you are the less the work you have to do.
Paul says he is a minister of Christ because he has been beaten many times for Jesus’ sake. He was also imprisoned several times, close to death for the cause of Christ. Ship wrecked multiple times, Paul was also stoned. Paul travelled extensively. Some historians have said that there is no other man in the ancient world who is recorded as extensively as Paul did. Paul had been in perils of water, robbers, of wilderness, he endured many hardships for the cause of Christ.
Paul lived a hard life as a missionary, traveling and preaching the gospel, by choice. And in all this, Paul was happy and able to say with conviction, even when chained in stocks to Roman soldiers, rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4).
Of Paul, Clarke commented “I will not boast of my natural or acquired powers; neither in what God has done by me; but rather in what I have suffered for him.”
What are you boasting about today?
Lord may I increasingly boast in you rather than anything worldly or temporal, I pray.
Extended Reading – 2 Corinthians 10-13
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