If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)
My human nature is to boast about the positive things in my life—my abilities and accomplishments. I am much less inclined to boast about my weaknesses. And that makes Paul’s words here hard to grasp. Why would he boast about his weaknesses?
There was no denying all that God had done through Paul. If anyone could boast about what he had done, it would seem to be Paul. He was fearless and untiring in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus in areas that had never heard the gospel. He started numerous churches around the northeastern Mediterranean. And he is responsible for much of the New Testament.
But Paul understood himself to be a servant of the Lord Jesus, even calling himself a bondslave of Christ. Paul was not interested in personal accolades. He was more interested in glorifying the Lord Jesus, the one who had called and saved him.
Paul compared himself to a clay jar. A jar that was filled with the light of Christ. And the power that enabled him to accomplish all this was not his own. It was the all-surpassing power of God working through him (2 Cor. 4:7-9). Paul had discovered that when he was weakest, God’s power working through him was the strongest (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
I have little formal theological training and no letters or titles to add to my name. I am not a bold or a dynamic speaker. And I have never started or led a church. Few people even know who I am. I am nothing but a simple, unadorned clay jar. But I rejoice that Christ has seen fit to use me in some small way. And my hope and prayer is that he will be glorified in me.
