2025 Week 16
Hello, Springers!
Few things are more disheartening to me than being sick. But it makes it worse when I’m sick, and I read in Proverbs 10:4-5 that:
A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
And then also:
He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is son who brings shame.
These proverbs point out laziness. Of course, being sick is not the same as being lazy, but something in my brain connects the two. I think it is that ancient lie that my worth is based on what I do in the world rather than who I am as a child of God.
Does this ever happen to you? Do you mistakenly equate your worth to an identity as a “human doing” rather than a “human being”? You are a human being, made in the image of God, and as an old quote from C.S. Lewis says:
“You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve,” said Aslan. “And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content.”
Rather than reading proverbs about laziness when I’m sick, there is perhaps a more appropriate place to go in Scripture, 2 Corinthians 12:9.
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Our weakness testifies more to the power of Christ than our doing. That does not mean we forego all planning and strategy, but it does mean we stop despising ourselves when we are weak. Every weakness presents us with the opportunity to rely again on Christ’s strength.
This means I repent of my thinking, “I am the lynchpin that holds my world together.” This means I remember John Donne’s poetic truth, “No man is an island.” This means the words of the old hymn are true. My firm foundation is that “Thy grace all-sufficient shall be my supply.”
You are a human being made in God’s image. God graciously calls you to himself so that you may know his love for you in Christ. When you receive Jesus as your King, you, too, can have strength in the midst of weakness and boast in Christ.
Lord willing, I’ll see you in worship this week when we celebrate Palm Sunday and recognize Jesus, our King.
in Christ,
Pastor Tag