God Uses the Weak – Part 3

The fact that God uses the weak is shown in both the Old and New Testaments, and there are many examples of how – and why – He did so. We have already looked at one of those examples in the story of Saul, the first king of Israel. Next we can look at someone else.

God Uses the Weak: A New Testament Example

One of the most well-known Christians of all time is the Apostle Paul. From anti-Christ antagonist to Christian church leader, God used this man in a mighty way.  While Paul had all the right qualifications to be the foremost apostle, that isn’t why God chose him. God chose Paul to show him (and the rest of us) that He doesn’t want ability as much as He wants heart! He wanted to show us that God uses the weak.

Paul had all the right stuff when it came to being religious. He was on the fast track to becoming one of the preeminent leaders in Israel, but God had other plans. Not only did God meet him in a miraculous way, He used him over and over as a leader of the church. Even though Paul became the most prolific teacher of the Christian faith, God still had something to show him. What God showed Paul also applies to each one of us; God uses the weak.

Strength Through Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NKJV)

What did Paul discover? He found that his own abilities were nothing compared to the life Christ offered to him (and everyone else!) if he would only follow. Paul received his revelations through the Spirit of God, not from his past education. God placed him in his position due to his willingness to follow and obey, not because of his status. God used him because God uses the weak.

Defining Weakness

The passage above gives us context to God’s definition of the word weak. He refers to weakness as the willingness of those He calls to follow Him. They don’t rely on their own abilities, even though God uses those abilities.

God taught Paul that the very essence of weakness is reliance on His leading. This concept is brought out throughout the Bible, and was even addressed by Jesus Himself here and here (among many other places).

Weakness, according to Jesus, is not powerlessness. It’s isn’t unresponsiveness or inaction, either. Jesus refers to weakness as the willingness of an individual to follow what God leads them to do.

The Perfect Example

Jesus is the perfect example of a life lived out in God’s weakness.

2 Corinthians 13:4

For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.  (NKJV)

Jesus was willing to submit Himself to God and follow His leading, even to the point of dying on the cross. And because of His weakness (reliance), He was, and IS, exalted. He showed us why God uses the weak; in order to work through them so that He gets all the glory!

God doesn’t want His people to ignore the gifts He has given. Instead, He wants to use those gifts through us as He leads us. We see this played out in every area of life, even in the church.

Who Gets the Credit?

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  (NKJV)

By being weak in Christ (relying on His leadership and wisdom), we allow the power of God to work in – and through – us. All we have to do is focus on Him, and He will do the rest.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,  but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  (NKJV)

As we live our lives in submission to His Word, He shows us day by day why God uses the weak!