There is Value in Failure
“If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.” -2 Corinthians 11:30
How many today would boast in where they are weak or in what they struggle with?
We all want to avoid embarrassing topics and I’m sure many of have learned the art of maneuvering a conversation away from anything that might show them in a bad light or disclose their incompetence. And ...if something does come up that makes us feel in such a way, we're also pretty good at explaining it away or justifying it to protect our public image. Sound familiar.?Anything to save face! Right.? But that is what we ought to be boasting about and sharing, the times when we did not look good, the times when we fell on our faces and failed. We should boast in the times when we are complete failures or have messed up. Think of all the lives that can be changed because of relation failures. -2 Corinthians 11:30-33
Why.? Because that’s when we begin to learn the most important lessons of our life and it’s those lessons that can shine the light for others.?
WEAKNESS refers to his perceived failures and shortcoming as judged by fleshly standards. We are being bombarded with the philosophy that natural abilities are what make a person usable as a Christian—a strong personality; an outgoing, optimistic outlook; gifts of leadership; handsome frame and body; musical ability; speaking ability—all these are the things that God will use. It’s Ridiculous To Think That Way!
Christ working in you is the only thing that God approves of. Anybody who is a Christian has Christ working in him or her, and if you learn to depend on Jesus' work within, ready to work through you as you choose to do things, He will work alongside you and make your efforts meaningful and valuable both in God's sight and ultimately people's. That’s what Paul learned.
Paul drew attention to his failures, he "boast" of them, in order that the all-sufficiency of divine grace and the limitless power of the Lord may be magnified.
Do you see the value of your failures.?
Do you trust God to redeem your failures?
To boast in weakness does not mean we cease striving for excellence or that we passively yield to obstacles in our way, without a fight, to mediocrity. It means we renounce self-reliance and depend on the strength of Christ to accomplish in and through us whatever will bring Him glory- Romans 15:18
How often do you talk about the times when you have fallen on your face and failed.?
“Rejoice in your sufferings (weaknesses), knowing that suffering (weakness) produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” -Romans 5:3-5
Embrace the stigma that comes with godliness in life and obedience to the gospel of Christ. Share your weaknesses so others can see what God has done and is doing in your life.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Teach me, Lord, to boast in the things that show my weakness.