Archive for the ‘Paul’ Category

Day 274: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 – Boasting in How Stupid I Am

Friday, October 1st, 2010

A couple days ago I wrote about having paid off 75k in consumer debt. Many people look at that and say “Wow, what an accomplishment!” I look back on it and say “How stupid was I to rack up that much debt in the first place?!?” I have learned that one of the best ways to help people in the situations they are in is to talk about some of the stupid things I’ve done and then the process of working out of those situations. If I come up to you and said “Here’s what you need to do to lose weight” you would probably shut me out. If I come up to you and tell you about how I was overweight and on medication and constantly sick and lethargic, but now I’ve dropped 55 pounds, take no medication, and feel great you might start to listen. We listen to people who have been there and overcome much more than someone who has merely studied the situation or has some idea about how to help. Unfortunately, this requires us to admit our own shortfalls before we can help others (that rings a bell). However, many of us have the attitude of “I once thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken”.

In 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 Paul writes about “the things that show my weakness.” He is not afraid to talk about the bad things that happened and even how weak and sinful he is. And that’s where his hope is found, through his own weakness, he is able to see God more clearly and allow God to lead him. In doing so, he provides hope to those who are currently struggling.

On a side note, I love the way Paul opens his boastings: “You listen to all these other fools, so you might as well listen to me.” I’ll have to try that at work sometime. :)

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Day 246: 1 Corinthians 1:14-2 Corinthians 2:5 — Humbleness

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Have you ever thought of Paul as being humble. I really have not pictured Paul as a humble man. I picture through reading his writings, Paul as a strong, confident man who was not afraid to proclaim the gospel any place, any time, to any people. From these particular scriptures, I get a different picture of Paul. Paul takes on a humble nature in order that God is glorified. Paul expressed that he was glad that he had baptized only a few people (1 Cor. 1:14-17) so that he did not become the center of attention by people who might egotistically want to put it out that they were better than other baptized believers because they had been baptized by Paul. Humans tend to want to do things like that to make themselves appear to be better than others in the same situation.

Paul then goes on to discuss how the power of God “destroys the wisdom of the wise and frustrates the intelligence of the intelligent” (1 Cor. 1:19). Paul elaborates by stating how Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:23). The Jews expected a triumphant, political Messiah and the Greeks and Romans thought that no reputable person would be crucified since crucifixion was for criminals. Both groups could not imagine that the Savior of the World would save them through something that they thought was below such a Savior or King. Paul says that God used this to demonstrate that what man thought was foolishness was really wise.

How often do we find ourselves, or a better way to say it is how often do I find myself thinking “God wouldn’t really do it that way would he?” What I forget is that God thinks in a different way than I do. He uses all different means, even what appears to us to be lowly people, things, or situations to advance his purpose. Paul was trying to tell the Corinthians and thus us that we need to look past ourselves and our thoughts and put God first. In this way we are humbling ourselves to God or putting him first and not our agenda first.

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Day 219: Acts 24:1-21 — Dealing with incompetence and greed

Saturday, August 7th, 2010

In today’s reading we find Paul once again pleading his case, this time in Caesarea before a Roman governor named Felix. Caesarea was a city about 50 miles NNW of Jerusalem, on the Mediterranean coast — the center of Roman rule for Samaria and Judea. Felix agreed to hear Paul’s case, but only after his accusers arrived (Acts 23:35).

Felix was most likely in office because of the influence of his brother Pallas on the emperor Claudius, and not through any accomplishments of his own. Paul no doubt was aware of the circumstances that placed Felix in office, but that didn’t much matter. He had written to the Christians in Rome probably no more than a year or two earlier, that no authority exists except what God has established (Romans 13:1). Therefore, whether occupied by a corrupt governor or not, the office that Felix held was still worthy of respect.

So Paul explains — Felix is a qualified judge (v. 10), his claims can be verified (v. 11), he was worshiping and not stirring up any dissent (v. 12), and the charges against him cannot be proven (v. 13). One thing that strikes me about Paul, is that no matter what his past actions were against the Church (Galatians 1:13), he now vigorously defends the risen Savior and His Church every chance he gets — before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23), now before Felix, and in Monday’s reading, before King Agrippa (Acts 25).

Paul had a choice here. He knew Felix’s heart, probably not through any divine revelation (though that’s a possibility), but because he was a good judge of character and student of history. Paul was fairly sure that no matter what he said, Felix wasn’t going to just let him go. The choices were simple: 1) confess to the false charges against him and accept the consequences, 2) bribe Felix to set him free (Acts 24:26), or 3) state his case plainly and accept whatever outcome that would bring. Paul may have been the chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15-16), but he was also a man of integrity. Choice 3 was the only option.

Felix wasn’t the best governor in the world. In fact, the Emperor recalled him in A.D. 58 because of his incompetence. We see incompetence and greed in our world too. And, like Paul, we are faced with choices — do we give in to someone else’s greed because it’s the easy way out? Do we deal with another’s ineptitude by gossiping and complaining? Do we react to laws and rules that we don’t agree with, by ignoring the ones we don’t want to obey (like outrageously low speed limits)? Or do we face life’s circumstances the way Paul did — with integrity, in a manner worthy of the name he wore (Christian)?

People are watching. What others think does matter.

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