Keep me from becoming conceited
Keep me from becoming conceited - 2 Corinthians 12
This chapter of 2 Corinthians contains a very popular verse, or should I say a portion of a verse.
“My grace is sufficient for you...” Jesus words that Paul quoted.
But, just reading and connecting with these six words alone would lose some critical context to what Paul is driving home in this chapter. Sure, those words are powerful and absolutely what Jesus said, but let's gather the full background to what Paul is bringing here.
Let’s get a quick refresher. A few chapters ago, starting in chapter ten, Paul is defending his ministry and calling to these called “Super Apostles.” These new leaders in Corinth are twisting and distorting the gospel and message of Christianity. In this distortion, they are challenging Paul’s authority! Paul is defending his calling and bringing clarity to all around these opportunistic false apostles.
The key problem here is these false teachers were influential, and the church started believing their message. Paul could not allow this to happen, and see the church fall into these lies. These Super Apostles were pride-filled, ego-driven leaders pointing at themselves, and that is why Paul started in chapter ten, sharing about only boasting in the Lord. Here in chapter twelve, Paul brings his point home.
“I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body, I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.” - 2 Corinthians 12:1-5 NIV
Paul opens this chapter again with boasting but points to how and what the boasting should look like. Boasting about others, but not himself.
“Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:6-7 NIV
Paul did not want the credit or focus to be on himself. The problem was, Paul had all the reasons to boast. He did have great revelations from God. Paul was talented and extremely gifted, and dude, Paul hung out with Jesus and had a crazy conversion story that everyone knew about. Paul had the goods. And because of this, we read in verse seven a key and pivotal verse.
“...Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” 2 Corinthians 12:7b NIV
We do not know what this thorn was, but it was a real issue that Paul had to deal with. Don’t miss the essential element here, to keep me from being conceited. Other versions of the Bible says prideful, exalted above measure, and even so, I wouldn’t get a big head.
Have you ever stopped to think about your weakness or that key issue that trips you up regularly as the “thing” that should keep you from becoming conceited, or prideful? Maybe we should introduce that perspective into our thinking. Check this out, and Paul goes on.
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:8 NIV
Paul begged the Lord to take it away. Again, we do not know what this issue was, but it drove Paul nuts. It also drove Paul to the feet of Jesus and kept him in check. This is a significant take home for us; those issues, weaknesses, and stumbling blocks we have should draw us closer to God, not build a wedge. Paul then quoted Jesus and reminds us of the upside-down message of the Gospel.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV
The Gospel message delivered, strength comes from our weakness and dependence on Jesus. We are weak; Christ is strong. We shall take no credit or glory, God, to you be the glory.
Paul’s thorn kept him humble and focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Today, as we walk into our day and ramp up the week may it be our prayer for the Lord to help keep us from becoming conceited.