Gillette ran a famous ad campaign in the 80s with the tagline, “Never let them see you sweat.” Don’t show fear, insecurity, weakness. Most children learn very early in life that any vulnerability will be exploited on the playground. Although there is wisdom to protecting ourselves in a hostile world, many in the Church still embrace worldly expressions of power. In his second letter to the Church in Corinth, Paul describes a very different perspective. Power does not look like the self-righteous arrogance of the religious elite. It doesn’t look like the crushing military might of imperial Rome. It’s not found in our personal gifts and abilities. True power is found in humble dependence on the Spirit of Jesus in us.

Paul writes this letter to a congregation influenced by false teachers. These men were impressively eloquent with outsized personalities. In a successful, prosperous place like ancient Corinth, these were the types of leaders they had always known. In contrast, Paul was a diminutive person and ineffective orator. Unlike the “super-apostles,” Paul appeared an apostolic weakling. And to boot, there was the embarrassing history of beatings and imprisonments, not to mention his work among them as a common laborer. This is not the leader the Corinthians are looking for! But Paul is zealous for them to see that he is following the footsteps of Jesus. Far from an embarrassment, his suffering proves his apostolic authenticity. This is exactly what Jesus foretold his followers would endure. And he has learned the power of the Spirit of God, present in his life, meeting him in his weakness so that the power of Jesus is clearly manifest. In fact, Paul says he boasts in his weakness!

Most of us resist having our weaknesses exposed. We erase the selfies that look bad. We cover up our failures (and boast about our successes). Living in affluent suburban America, it is easy to believe the subtle lies of worldly success and power. 2 Corinthians invites us to discover true power in our weakness and that our faith is lived by a daily dependence (in all things!) on the One who empowers us and brings forth his treasure from the earthen jar of an ordinary Christian life.

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