I Don't Mean to Brag...

Passage: 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10

In 2 Corinthians 11 and 12 the Apostle Paul, who is sometimes given to hyperbole, seems to lose it altogether. In fact, he admits of himself: “I am speaking as a fool…I am out of my mind to talk like this.” What pushes Paul over the edge?

Paul recognizes his peers’ propensity to boast. He belongs to a culture of male bravado and machismo, in which it is customary for a guy to herald his achievements and flaunt his strengths. As more of his contemporaries have converted to Christianity, Paul has nurtured in them values that are countercultural: compassion; conciliation; humility. Paul has been gratified to see these values take root.

But old habits die hard. In correspondence with a member of the church in Corinth, Paul catches wind of the resurgence of a persistent practice: boasting. Members of Paul’s church, having apparently mastered this whole Christian thing, have begun boasting about how good they are at it. Specifically, they’ve begun boasting about suffering for their faith. How brave they are in the face of opposition; how strong they are in maintaining their faith in the face of adversity.

Paul heaves a sigh. And fires off a letter. “Guys,” he says. “You still don’t get it. It’s not about you. It’s not about how great you are. If anyone should boast about suffering for the faith, it’s me. But I don’t. What I should be highlighting is my weakness. And so should you. Why? Because the more obvious it is we need a Savior, the more remarkable our Savior will appear. What is our job, if not to direct the world’s attention to our Savior?”

Live out your faith. Live it out the best you can. But don’t make it about how well you know your Bible. How much you do for other people. Don’t make it about how morally good you are. If you want to draw people’s attention to something, draw their attention to your flaws. Your failures. Let them know how bad you need a Savior. Brag about how good your Savior is.