On 2 Cor 12.1-10
It’s a bit confusing – and there are some beautiful promises in it.
Paul is writing to the church. In Corinth, where they’ve been having some issues with humility.
In the preceding chapter, Paul is talking to them about some self-appointed SUPER-apostles, and then of fools.
That church has started trusting in folks who are making big promises – without necessarily being able to fulfill them. Folks who are kinda putting themselves above God. Hence: fools.
So Paul, in this passage, is a little biographical, is speaking of himself in the third person: of the successes and challenges that have happened in his ministry.
And he gives us all, in his rather verbose way, an understanding of the realities of life.
There are always going to be those in our midst that will speak of the great things that they’ve done; drawing attention to themselves: to brag, to boast, to make sure that everyone around hears and knows how awesome they are.
It’s a self-focus, and it’s a dangerous pedestal to put yourself on, where you think you don’t need others, and you don’t need God. Yet: we all know, the higher the pedestal, the farther the potential to fall – and when you’re up there alone, there’s no one there to catch you when you fall.
So this is where Paul speaks of the benefit and gift of humility.
Not of humiliation; but of the godly reminders he’s had in his ministry – admittedly, an exceptional ministry! But God has made sure he knows that has needed help, that he has connected with community, that he has not perceived himself to be singularly better than others. The proverbial ‘thorn in his side’ has made sure to keep him grounded.
This thorn is actually a grace, not stopping Paul from doing his good works, but slowing him down, like a rock in the shoe: ensuring that his works inspire others to see and know God’s greatness. To keep the glory directed where it belongs. And in doing so, Paul is ministering WITH fellow Christ-followers: with feet firmly on the ground, as part of a healthy community.
The focus remains on God:
This doesn’t mean we’re meant to ignore the gifts that God has given us; quite the opposite.
We are called to use them! To share them. To celebrate them.
BUT: Not to brag about them.
Bragging changes the intention of the gift. It is no longer a generosity for others, it is a means of self-aggrandisement. Once we start bragging about them, we shift the focus back to ourselves. And the pedestal climbs that little bit higher.
So what do we do? We embrace humility. We celebrate community.
We build one another up; knowing that God is with us in that journey.
We offer to help others when their pedestal is getting a bit too high… because we don’t want others hurt.
We act: humbly. Faith-fully.
Humility is not something that we, as humans, are necessarily good at:
But this is where Paul drops a line that stays with us: it moves us, it grounds us, it empowers us every time we find ourselves a little higher – or lower – than is healthy.:
“the Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you.’”
God’s grace.
That unmerited favour of the divine, flowing through our lives.
It’s sufficient for us. It’s enough.
When we get things wrong, Jesus reminds us that his grace is sufficient to cover our errors.
When we get things right, Jesus reminds us that his grace is sufficient to have led us to that success.
My Grace is sufficient for you.
This is the grace that we see in the people that God has put in our lives, that we are invited to love. The people we’re called to serve. The people we’re called to meet, and know.
The people we will minister with; who we will minister to, who will minister to us.
God’s grace is sufficient for all this.
And more!
For in putting us all together, God lavishes this grace upon us, and we share the pure bliss of being community,
Trusting the words of God spoken to our hearts: My grace is sufficient for you.
We don’t have to get it all right, but we do have to try;
And because of God’s sufficient grace, we are emnboldened to love.
We are empowered to live the good news.
We are equipped to do good things.
And we are connected such that we never have to do it alone: by the grace of God.
And so in all that we do to love and serve the Lord, and to love and serve the Lord’s people,
we commit to doing it with God’s help, and with the support of each other.
Just as we promised in our baptism, and in our weekly confession, and in our daily prayers:
We do our best; with God’s people
With God’s love.
With God’s help.
With God’s grace.
SO let us now – once again – celebrate the abundant and sufficient grace that God pours out like water – as we move to the font and celebrate the sacrament of baptism.
And as we say the words “I will, with God’s help!”
May we hear God’s beautiful assurance – “My grace is sufficient for you!”
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