No Room to Talk
2 Corinthians 11:16-31
16. I repeat, let no one think me foolish; but even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17. (What I am saying I say not with the Lord's authority but as a fool, in this boastful confidence; 18. since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast.) 19. For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20. For you bear it if a man makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever any one dares to boast of -- I am speaking as a fool -- I also dare to boast of that. 22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one -- I am talking like a madman -- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; 26. on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; 27. in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30. If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie.
Paul is pretty fed up with “false prophets” as he views those who are trying to persuade the Corinthians away from the gospel of Jesus Christ! He’s taking the stand that if they can boast about how wonderful they are, about how pious and righteous they are, then “let’s see how you measure up!” And of course, there is no way any one of them could match Paul’s hardships item for item, beating for beating, and shipwreck for shipwreck!
At first it may seem wrong for Paul to resort to such methods. After all, as Christians we so often feel we should “suffer in silence” as we endure any hardships because of our faith. The world is not kind to those of us who try to live by our faith! But Paul is not bragging about himself! The Jews in Corinth are telling the Gentiles that they cannot be saved unless they are circumcised and adopt the religious practices of the Jews. After all, they say, look what the Jews have endured for centuries! How can the Gentiles believe they will be afforded salvation without suffering themselves?
These powerful Jewish leaders are doing everything they can to “convert” the Gentiles to their way of thinking. They bully them, threaten them, try to make them feel inferior and as if they must “suffer” they way the Jews do—with the same rituals, rites, and practices. Paul lets loose! “Look at what I have endured! But it’s not about me – any more that it’s about any one of these Jewish leaders! It’s about Christ! It’s about how we can endure torture, starvation, shame, anything at all that this world can throw at you, if you rely upon the power of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit!”
No human conditions can be applied to our salvation! No corralling and prodding and threatening can force one to be saved! It’s not through man – or any of man’s laws, rules, regulations! Paul’s saying, “Don’t you get it!? You’re calling ME a fool!?” Paul justifiably challenges them, “When one of you has endured and survived what I have lived to testify about here today, then we can talk. Until then, you better listen!”
We will probably (hopefully) never be asked or expected to endure what Paul did! But we do make difficult choices sometimes in how we’re going to live our lives. The world is not tolerant of anyone who doesn’t conform. People are not kind to those who don’t believe and act and live as they do. Paul’s point is we better not start throwing a pity party for ourselves. We better not back down or never even step up to the plate because we don’t think we could deal with the consequences – financially, emotionally, or otherwise! If Paul were alive today, he might tell us,
“Live like you’re saved. The Holy Spirit dwells within you. No power on earth is stronger, wiser, or more mighty. Go to God. Rely upon the risen Christ. Call upon the Holy Spirit. That’s the winning team in the race of life!” When you can match what Paul willingly and obediently subjected himself to, then we can talk!
I hope you spend today living like you’re saved, going to God for every decision, looking to Christ for the proper example, and calling upon the Holy Spirit for the strength, courage, and wisdom you need.
Mary
