“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” - 2 Corinthians 11:30
“The more things are professional, excellent, and impressive the more vulnerable, humble, and boasting in weakness we need to be.” Kyle Idleman spoke those at WFX 2015 in Nashville. At another point during his talk, he stated, “We want to be impressive…but we are called to boast in weakness.”
There are several reasons this becomes difficult for us as technically minded people serving in our local churches:
1.We tend to put a lot of thought and energy into appearance and experience.
2.We often feel expectations to know the answers to all technical problems.
3.Most of the feedback we receive is negative because people notice us most because of our mistakes.
As a result, we can become prideful in having the “best” systems, arrogant in needing to always be right, and defensive in our response to criticism, even when criticism is given in a healthy way.
In Colossians 3, we find a path laid out for us that is helpful in our endeavor to walk in a kind of weakness that leads to strength. Here is the order set by Paul for those who are in Christ:
1.Col. 3:2:
Setting our minds on things above.
Juxtaposed: we are not to set our minds on the things of this earth. In my mind this is a conscious, willful effort to be putting into our minds a deeper knowledge of Christ. It is an acknowledgement in us that the things of this earth are temporary. We take the attention off of our circumstances and ourselves and look to Christ. It comes as we intentionally study and as Col 3:16 describes: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
2.Col 3:5:
Putting to death what is earthly in us.
After we have set our minds on God, we go on to do be vulnerable about sin we find within ourselves. Paul gives us a few categories: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, coveting, anger, wrath, malice, slander and obscene talk. We are instructed to put these things to death. It depicts a violent and aggressive nature within us to battle against the sin we find in ourselves. And even in this we are unable to boast of in our strength but in our weakness and inability. Romans 8:13 (John Owen has written a book entitled “The Mortification of Sin in Believers” that goes into greater detail.)
3.Col 3:12-14:
Putting on certain things.
We are to make these things our aim and they are all rooted in weakness rather than strength…at least as our world defines strength.
a.Compassionate Hearts: Hearts of pity or mercy.
b.Kindness: Having goodness or integrity.
c.Humility: Having a humble opinion of one's self or a lowliness of mind.
d.Gentleness: A mild disposition or meekness.
e.Patience: Steadfastness, consistency, or endurance.
f.Forbearance and forgiveness toward one another.
g.Love – affection, goodwill, or brotherly love. And love, as verse 14 tells us, “this binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
4.Col 3:15:
Letting the peace of Christ rule in hearts.
This last part of the process is something that is produced in us and as I read this progression we do nothing except let it take place in us. We allow it to happen. Philippians 4:7 describes the peace of God as something that can guard our hearts and our minds. As sports fans would acknowledge, there's strength in a good defense.
The irony of it all is that this strength comes through our weaknesses. We take our attention off of ourselves. We make it our life's work to put to death the sin we find in ourselves and this includes being vulnerably honest about it with God and other Godly people in our lives so they can pray for us. We aim at attaining a list of “weak” qualities in ourselves. We then let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.
And the very last thing we have left to do is summed up in the last sentence of verse 15. “And be thankful.” We sing songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God. Not to us, not to others, but to God. The focus and the glory and the credit for any knowledge or success we may have in all these things goes to Him. Thankfulness that God takes average, ordinary people, people full of compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love….the weak according to the world…and does extraordinary things in them and through them.
This is the way of the upside down kingdom we are a part of. The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong. As Colossians 3 ends, it reminds us, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
