Boast

“Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”  2 Cor 12:9

Boast – It’s your finest hour.  You are about to be introduced to the audience as the guest speaker.  The crowd is there to celebrate your life.  The emcee steps to the microphone.  “Ladies and gentlemen.  Tonight’s speaker comes to us with incredible credentials.  Let me name just a few.  The person before you isn’t able to make it without help.  He’s struggled with pride and arrogance.  He has character flaws that need repentance.  He has failed again and again in many areas of life, especially in pleased God.  In fact, the man we are here to honor tonight is a great example of each of our weaknesses.  And that’s why we’ve come to celebrate.”

You’re not likely to here this kind of introduction at the next celebrity event or power lunch.  I don’t have to tell you why.  We all know that we want to hide our weaknesses, mistakes and fears.  But the Biblical worldview is just a little backwards.  It does not celebrate human achievement.  It celebrates human failure because God shows up when I come to a dead end.  The Bible is not a story about God helping us reach our potential.  The Bible is a story about God using us in spite of our failure.

The paradigm of this world is star power.  We flock to see the powerful, the successful, the influential.  We try to emulate their lives.  We desire their abilities and success.  It doesn’t matter much if we are in a Christian or non-Christian environment.  We all want to “be like Mike”.  But God turns the tables on all this clamoring.  Paul understood – after he was given a little lesson in humility.  The only celebrity worth emulating is Jesus:  the man who was despised, hated, persecuted and killed.  The man who taught that the way to greatness is to be a slave, that service to others is all that counts, that holiness is the only treasure worth having and that obedience is the way of peace. 

Why can I boast (kauchaomai) in my failures?  Because where I am weak, I am just like you.  Where I hurt, you and I are the same.  Where I am ashamed, we connect.  Where I am unable, we are in harmony.  Pain is the common denominator of our lives.  God’s grace is the common multiplier. 

What kind of introduction do you want at your celebration dinner?