REFORMED WITNESS
Volume XVI, April 2010, Number 4
Grace Through Affliction
By Rev. James D. Slopsema
A meditation from the February 1, 1986, issue of The Standard BearerSee more articles by this author
Also in this issue: Supporting the Weak- by Rev. James D. Slopsema
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.When I am weak, then am I strong.
Now that's a paradox! A paradox is a statement which on the surface is self-contradictory but upon further contemplation makes perfectly good sense. The paradox was a favorite teaching device of the Jews to impress a point indelibly on the minds of others.
This most striking statement of the Apostle Paul is also a paradox. At first glance it seems to contradict itself. How can one be strong when he is weak? But properly understood it makes perfectly good sense and reveals in a most clever manner a very important truth. The Apostle would impress upon us the truth that only when we are weak in ourselves are we strong in the grace of God.
This is a very important truth for us to remember. So often we rely on our own strength, and then we fail miserably. However, when we see our own weakness so that we rely on the power of God's grace, then we are strong.
Let us be weak, therefore, that we may be truly strong!
* * * * *
In the preceding verses the apostle Paul speaks of the thorn in his flesh.
We all know what a thorn is. It is a small sliver that can easily embed itself in the flesh. Such a thorn can cause a great deal of pain and suffering. If located in the proper place, it can virtually cripple a person. For example, a thorn lodged in the heal of the foot and allowed to fester can make it impossible for the healthiest of persons to do his work.
In like manner the apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh-not literally but figuratively. There has been much speculation as to what this thorn really was. Some suggest that Paul was blind; others say he had a speech impediment. Almost every malady found in medical textbooks has been suggested. The fact is we don't know what this thorn was. However, it appears as though it involved some physical infirmity that quite severely hindered his work as an apostle.
Hence, Paul writes that three times he asked the Lord to remove this thorn that he might labor more effectively as an apostle. The answer of the Lord was, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
Many take these words of the Lord to mean that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, God's grace will always be there and will always be sufficient to uphold us. That is indeed one of the comforting truths of the Scriptures. God never, in His grace, leaves us. Wherever we go, God is always at our side, and when we meet difficulties, as we invariably do, God always upholds us in His grace. We shall never flounder in the storms of life; we shall never be overcome. For God is always there with His grace, and His grace is always sufficient. How wonderful and comforting!
However, this is not the main thrust of the Lord's words to Paul. The main thought will become clear if we bear in mind that this is the Lord's answer to Paul's request to remove the thorn from his flesh. The meaning then is that it is through this thorn that the Apostle receives the grace of God. Strange as that may at first seem, God's grace reaches Paul exactly through the affliction of this thorn! With that Paul must be content. It ought to be sufficient for Paul that he has Gods grace. He must not; therefore, continue to ask the Lord to remove this thorn.
So it always is; God's grace reaches us exactly through our afflictions. The sick receive God's grace exactly through their sickness. The poor receive God's grace through their poverty. Those who suffer the loss of loved ones receive God's grace through their loss. We may ask God to remove the afflictions we suffer, for no suffering for the present is joyous. However, God will often answer, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
* * * * *
God's grace reaches us through affliction exactly because, as the Lord continues to point out to Paul, "My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Let us bear in mind that each of us has a calling. Your calling is the work God has set before you to do in the service of His name. Your calling may in part be to serve God as a husband or wife or parent. Your calling may include serving God as an office-bearer in the church or as a teacher or as a student or as an employer or as an employee.
Let us also bear in mind that to do the work God has set before us requires the strength of Jesus Christ. We can't do this work in our own strength. The husband who will rule his wife in his own strength will fail miserably-as will the wife who will be a help to her husband, the parent who will train up his children, the office bearer who will build up the church. Working in our own strength we will surely fail. To do the work of the Lord we need to be strengthened. We need the strength of Jesus Christ. The power of Christ must come to rest upon us and dwell in us.
This strength of Christ is made perfect in weakness.
To be made perfect means to reach the goal that has been set. When God set Christ at His own right hand and clothed Him with all power and might, God had a purpose, a goal. His goal was that this great power come to rest upon His people so that in that power they may faithfully perform the calling He has for them. When that goal is reached, the strength of Jesus Christ is perfected. When you and I in the strength of Jesus Christ faithfully fulfill our calling in the home, in the church, in our place of work, in the community, then is the strength of Christ perfected. Then also God's grace has reached us. For the perfecting of Christ's strength in us is the work of God's grace.
However, this strength is made perfect only in weakness - in our weakness. From our vantage point our weaknesses hinder us in fulfilling our calling before God.
This certainly was Paul's feeling. He had a terrible weakness that was like a thorn in his flesh. Paul was convinced that this weakness was seriously hampering his work as an Apostle. Oh, if only God would remove this weakness and make him strong! How much more effectively couldn't he then serve the Lord!
We too often feel the same way. We have many weaknesses. Perhaps we too suffer from physical infirmities or lack physical endurance. Perhaps we suffer from financial difficulties or nervous problems or family problems or some other kinds of problems. For all the world these seem to hinder us in our ability to serve the Lord. Oh, if only the Lord would remove these burdens and weaknesses and make us strong! Then we could serve Him much more effectively!
That's not always true, however. For if we are always strong and never weak we tend to rely on our own strength rather than on the strength of Jesus Christ. Those who are strong often see no need to rely on Christ. They can do quite nicely in their own strength. However, they will ultimately fail. Because of their great strength they may for a time bask in the limelight. According to the standards of men they may for a time appear to be very successful even in doing the work of the Lord. But ultimately they will fail. For the work of the Lord requires much, much more than the puny strength of man.
So God often sends us afflictions to make us weak. For when we are weak we rely not on ourselves but on the strength of Jesus Christ.
That is what happened to the apostle Paul. Paul relates in the preceding verses that, due to the abundant revelations God gave him, he was inclined to be puffed up in pride. He tended to glory in himself. In such a spiritual frame of mind he never could have served effectively as the Lord's servant. Hence, God made him weak through this miserable thorn in his flesh, so weak that in his own strength he could do nothing. It was exactly through this weakness, however, that Paul learned to turn to Christ and to rely upon Christ's strength alone. As a result Paul was a much better servant of God. Since the strength of Christ had come to rest upon him, he was able to do much more in the service of God than he ever could have done were he still strong in himself. In his weakness he became strong.
The same is also true with us. How often does not God make us weak through affliction so that we cannot possibly rely on our own strength to do the work of the Lord! Being weak we learn to turn to Jesus our Savior, that His power may come to rest upon us. As a result of our weakness, we are able to do great things in the name and strength of Jesus Christ.
When I am weak, then am I strong! Christ's strength is made perfect in my weakness! It is through affliction that I receive Gods grace!
* * * * *
Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake. Most gladly will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Our first reaction to the infirmities, necessities, and distresses God places upon us is to resent them. How easily we become discontent. Perhaps we murmur and complain. We may even outwardly rebel against the hand of the Lord.
However, if this is our reaction, we will indeed be weak in our weaknesses. For the strength of Christ does not come to rest upon us in the midst of discontent and rebellion.
Seeing the great design of the Lord in affliction, let us rather take pleasure in our afflictions. Let us glory, that is boast, in them, and in wisdom let us then turn to Jesus Christ our Savior to receive His great strength.
Then in our weakness we will be indeed very strong!
Supporting the Weak
A meditation by Rev. James D. Slopsema
From the March 1, 1986, issue of The Standard BearerI have shown you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
When the saints suffer, there is often no one in the church who will help. For example, the poor in the church must often turn to the world for help, because the church does not care for her own poor. The brother who has fallen into sin is often avoided and shunned rather than led to repentance in a spirit of concern and love. Often the widows in the church are neglected and excluded socially.
This ought not be the case in the church of Jesus Christ. For the world to turn its back on those in need is one thing. You expect that. The world is evil and knows not how to love in the true sense. But in the church among the saints it is different. In the church you find those who are redeemed in Christ's blood, who are new creatures in Christ Jesus. Certainly in the church you ought not find cold indifference to those who suffer! But the sad fact of the matter is that this is often the case.
It is to this situation that the words of the apostle Paul (to the elders of Ephesus) are addressed. The Apostle is returning to Jerusalem at the conclusion of his third missionary journey. He knows that bonds await him in Jerusalem. Hence, he stops in Miletus and summons the elders of the church of Ephesus to him to bid them farewell. They will see his face no more. How sad is this farewell. The Apostle reminds the elders of his labors in Ephesus. He charges them to be faithful in their labors as shepherds of the flock of Christ. Then he charges them to support the weak. Even as he had shown them by his own example earlier, they must labor to support the weak, and to encourage them in this difficult task they must remember the words of Jesus. He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
This admonition is directed to the elders of Ephesus for their work in the church. This admonition, however, is not limited simply to the elders or office-bearers in the church. This is a calling for all in the church. Laboring we ought to support the weak, remembering the words of Jesus, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
A Solemn Calling
The weak are those who are without strength, whether that be financial strength, physical strength, spiritual strength, or emotional strength. They are further identified by Paul, as he quotes the words of Jesus, as those who cannot give but only receive. That is to be weak indeed!
All of us at one time or another will fall into this category of the weak. Some of us may be numbered among the weak for long periods of time, others may be weak for only a short time. But God in His good providence brings each of us sooner or later to the position where we desperately need help, where we must receive the help of others and can give nothing in return.
For some this may be financial weakness-poverty. This appears to be uppermost in Paul's mind when he speaks of the weak. In the preceding verses Paul reminds the elders of Ephesus how that while laboring in Ephesus he labored with his own hands as a tentmaker to provide not only for his own needs but also for the needs of those with him. These latter probably refer to his fellow laborers in the gospel, who had no means of financial support. It may also refer to various poor in Ephesus. So when Paul here speaks of the weak he no doubt has in mind first those who are financially without strength, those who financially can do nothing but receive. How often haven't the saints found themselves in this weakness?
Just as often, however, the saints of God find themselves weak in other ways. Sometimes they find that they are without strength spiritually, so that for a time sin controls their lives and they stray far from the path of righteousness. At other times they may find themselves without physical strength. Sickness and disease can take away all our strength so that we must rely entirely upon others. So too can old age do this to us.
There is also the widow who has lost her husband, the orphan who has lost his parents, the saint upon whom God places crushing burdens that can no more be carried, the saint who suffers chronic depression. There is no end of ways in which the saints can become weak, so weak that they cannot give but only receive.
Laboring we ought to support the weak. To support the weak means to help them, to provide for them in their need.
As already pointed out, the saints who become weak often find that they are not supported by their fellow saints. The widows are often neglected, the elderly and chronically ill are seldom visited, the poor must go to the world for help, the erring brother is shunned and avoided, the depressed are not encouraged but rather criticized and avoided...
There are reasons for this. Note carefully, we did not say excuses.
The first reason why the weak are not supported is that it requires work to support the weak. Says the Apostle, "Laboring ye ought to support the weak." To support the weak is a labor. It requires hard, difficult work. It requires a great deal of time and energy. Many in the church are simply not willing to exert such an effort necessary to help their fellow saints in need.
In the second place, however, the weak are often neglected because they can give nothing in return. The weak are those who can only receive. Again there are too many in the church who are not willing to give of their time and money and energy, if there is not an immediate, tangible return. If they give, they expect something in return.
However, the Word of God is quite clear: "Laboring ye ought to support the weak." The idea is that it is necessary to support the weak. It is necessary because God commands it. The support of the weak is implied in the very law of God. The great command of the law is that we love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. Certainly the love of the neighbor requires that we support him when he becomes weak.
This obligation of love is especially on us, the redeemed of God. To be sure, this obligation is on all men. Even the world has an obligation before God to help the neighbor who is weak. However, the world is corrupt and depraved and is not able to accomplish this as the law of God requires.
But among the saints it is different. We have been redeemed in the blood of Christ. In Christ God has come to us in our great weakness and in love supported us. In love He has helped us even to the point of saving our wretched souls from hell, and He has given us a new life according to which we are able to love both God and the neighbor. Certainly; therefore, we the redeemed of God ought to help those that are weak.
A Wonderful Encouragement
We are encouraged to support the weak by the words of Jesus, our Savior, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
You will look in vain in the Gospels for these words of Jesus. Paul is not quoting the Gospel accounts. Evidently this is a saying of Jesus that, although never appearing in the Gospel accounts, was nevertheless recognized by the early church as a very significant saying and thus repeated often by her members.
Now the Apostle reminds us of this saying. Helping the weak is often a wearisome labor. Remember, therefore, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Jesus Himself taught us this.
The meaning of these words is, first, that it is blessed to receive. Yes, if it is more blessed to give than to receive, it certainly is blessed to receive. The weak are truly blessed when their fellow saints support them and help them in their needs. The widow is blessed when the saints remember her in her need. So too the sick and infirm, the elderly, the poor, the erring brother, the depressed and downtrodden are all blessed when their fellow saints take the time to help and support them. They are blessed first because their immediate needs are met. Within the church there are all the gifts necessary to meet the needs of those who are weak and without strength. What a blessing for the weak when their fellow saints step forward and together labor to support them. But more blessed still is the fact that, through the labors of their fellow saints, the weak experience the mercies of Christ.
Let the weak never in pride shun the help and support of their fellow saints.
But according to the words of Jesus it is still more blessed to give than to receive.
There are many in the church who do not believe this. They believe it is blessed only to receive. Consequently they give only when they know they will get something tangible in return. So they seldom if ever help the weak.
However, the words of Jesus are true. It is blessed to give. It is by far more blessed to give than to receive. For those who give, even when there is nothing to receive, do in fact receive. They may receive nothing from those whom they help, and they probably won't receive anything from their fellow saints, probably not even the recognition that they have given of themselves. But they will receive something from the hand of God. For nothing goes unnoticed by God. He handsomely rewards those who support the weak in the name of Christ, and this reward more than compensates for all the weary labors extended to help the weak. In fact, it is a reward that makes them even more blessed than those whom they have helped. What is this reward? It is the approval of God Himself. It is the sweet bliss of God's fellowship and companionship. To appreciate the blessedness of this reward one must be born again in Jesus Christ. The natural man hears this and scoffs. But to the born again heart the fellowship of God is sweet and precious indeed. With such a reward God the Father blesses all those who labor to support the weak. This reward they possess now in principle and one day will possess fully in eternity.
A Necessary Example
To assist the saints of Ephesus in carrying out this all-important calling, Paul calls the attention of the elders to his own example. During the three years he spent among them, he had shown them by his own example how laboring they ought to support the weak.
This had been necessary, for the saints of Ephesus were only babes in the faith. They had to be taught to support the weak not only by word but also by example.
That same example is also necessary today in the church. Those who are mature in the faith must teach those who are less mature to support the weak. This instruction must be given by both word and example. Certainly this is the calling of the elders and office-bearers in the church, with respect to the whole congregation. It is also the calling of the parents with respect to their children.
When this is done, so that the strong truly support the weak, then the church is truly blessed. The weak are blessed in that they have received from their fellow saints. But the strong are also blessed because they have given.
| Back to top | Back to main Reformed Witness page |
The Reformed Witness newsletter is published monthly under the auspices of the Evangelism Committee of the Hope Protestant Reformed Church of Redlands. This newsletter is available to anyone who is interested in the Reformed Faith. If you would like your name added to our mailing list, please write to:The Reformed Witness
Hope Protestant Reformed Church
1307 E. Brockton Ave.
Redlands, CA 92374-3802
or email us: