2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.
Is inadequacy a bad thing?The answer depends on where my adequacy comes from.
Our culture tells us inadequacy is a bad thing.It says self-reliance wins the day. From our youth on we are taught that self-strength and self-esteem and self-dependence bring success in this life. We are taught that we can do anything that we set our minds to accomplish. Yet, is this a Biblical concept?
God wants to accomplish all things for me. That is what the Bible teaches (Psalm 57:2). It’s hard for us to wrap our heads around it. The whole of Scripture teaches us that we can’t do anything good in our own strength; only God has the strength to prevail on our behalf (Psalm 16:2). From salvation (becoming a Christian) to sanctification (living as a Christian) God tells us it’s all from Him. Everything I am, everything I do, every breath that I take comes from God. Therefore, I can take no credit (i.e., glory) for any good that I do. I can honestly say that any success I achieve in this life is given to me in Christ without merit. I deserved none of it. It’s all an undeserved gift (i.e., grace).
My inadequacy activates God’s adequacy. That’s how it works. When I realize I can’t do any good unless Christ does the good in and through me, then God responds with action (Philippians 4:13). He only displays His power through my weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
My power is made perfect in weakness.
Paul goes on to boast about his own inadequacy saying, “Therefore, I would rather boast in my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me (2 Corinthians 12:9).” Therefore, inadequacy because of Christ’s adequacy is a good thing.
We live in a world of people who have put their adequacy not in Jesus Christ, but in themselves. Glory to man, rather than glory to God, is the theme of this humanistic, postmodern culture. God is no longer needed, it seems.
Where does your adequacy lie?If you have had success in education, occupation, materialization, etc., where do you claim it’s all come from? You, or Christ?
