“A Thorn Viewed from Two Sides” ~ ✨
The Lord Jesus taught this lesson: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5). The Lord sees through the human heart!
This “thorn” mentioned by the Lord points out that this tendency to be most adept at blaming others’ shortcomings is a constant, in every place and among every people. How many will sincerely admit that they themselves are also, after all, people full of thorns, or have thorns in their own eyes? Or, from ancient times to the present, who is without thorns on their body? From the teachings of the Apostle Paul and his personal experience, I have the following thoughts to share with readers.
In the final three chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul addresses this common ailment of human nature, containing within it empathy, rebuke, and encouragement. In the Bible, when weakness is mentioned, besides referring to weaknesses in character and body, sin is also often described as weakness.
In 2 Corinthians 11:29, we read Paul asking: “Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” The phrase “Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?” expresses Paul’s acknowledgment that everyone has a weak side; this includes himself. But the latter part, “Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” rather than “who is led into sin, and I am not led into sin?”, indicates that although Paul was weak, by relying on the Lord he did not fall. Although Paul did not fall, he burned with indignation and was even grieved because he saw the Corinthian church not standing firm in the truth of the gospel.
I observe that many local churches today are as weak as the Corinthian church was then. If the church does not deal with weakness, the spiritual weakness of believers will, through constant exposure, unconsciously lead everyone to accept weakness as a matter of course. The persistent weakness of a member can cause others to stumble again and again, and the weakness of many members causes the church to lose its power to bear witness for Christ.
When Paul says, “Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?”, I believe he says this not to encourage weakness or to continue in weakness, but rather, through his own experience of weakness, to understand the believers in Corinth and to encourage them to cast off weakness and join together to be strong for the Lord. The church is the body of Christ, and each member is a part of the body. Paul’s burning concern was that one weak member could cause the whole body to be weak; one corrupt member could also cause the whole body to be corrupted. The principle of the members’ interconnectedness is precisely the truth the church must hold fast. Paul not only explained this truth to the Corinthian church he founded, but he also practised what he preached, managing the “household” well.
We all understand that only when the members are united can they jointly proclaim and testify to the gospel, and such a church is a blessed church. In terms of establishing and strengthening churches, Paul was undoubtedly the one after the Lord’s own heart. He sought the lost stray sheep, and then strengthened the sheepfold, keeping the flock within the Lord’s sheepfold. Paul cared for the Corinthian church and other local churches he had founded, always watching over them with a father’s heart. He followed Christ, fully displaying the Lord’s heart. He reminds me of Matthew 8:17 which says: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” In many local churches today, there is no lack of talent, but there is a lack of shepherds with a father’s heart who practise what they preach.
To deal with weakness, one must first know its origin. 2 Corinthians 12:9 brings out this level of reflection. The origin of weakness can be innate, caused by later circumstances, or it can be a means God uses to teach humility or to glorify Himself. We know that Paul had a ‘thorn’ in his flesh, and he often pleaded with the Lord to take it away from him. Paul tells us that the Lord said to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
It is well known that the gifts Paul received were greater than those given to any other apostle. I feel that the thorn in his flesh was used to restrain him and remind him who is Lord. This thorn was also the channel through which he received grace; without this thorn, Paul would not have needed to ask the Lord for more mercy and favour. The thorn in his flesh made him think of the many things the Lord had to say to the weak Corinthian church, and this thorn guided him in how to say them. Paul’s thorn provided him, and the Lord’s servants in the post-apostolic era, with a very important warning. Those apostles and disciples who receive great gifts must remember that their King is the King of kings, and their Lord is the Lord of lords.
Coming to this point, I also think about the attitude and hope believers should have towards physical weakness. Learning from Paul, if this thorn in our flesh has spiritual significance, then we should not ask the Lord to remove it, but ask for the Lord’s protection and grace so that we can walk with the thorn. 1 Corinthians 2:15 points out that the spiritual person can discern all things. I believe its meaning is not for the spiritual person to boast but to indicate that those believers who can discern all things are those who can see human weakness accurately. Paul’s weakness was not spoken out of false humility; he truly saw his own and others’ inherent flaws. When we feel that we truly can do nothing by ourselves but can only do things by relying on God, then God’s grace covers us.
Socrates, a foundational figure in Western philosophy born in ancient Greece, once said: “The highest wisdom a person can possess is to admit that one knows nothing.” Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:2: “Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.” Believers must affirm this “I do not know, but my Lord knows” as a motto for spiritual growth.
I will give another example for further reminder and encouragement. The life of Moses, the prophet of the Old Testament, had three “forty-year periods of not knowing,” as described below:
1. The first forty years was the time he grew up in the Egyptian palace. As a member of the royal family, he thought he could do anything to the point where he could kill at any time and place. In fact, it was because he “did not know” God’s righteous nature that he killed according to his own will (Exodus 2:11-12).
2. The second forty years was after he killed the Egyptian. Fearing Pharaoh’s pursuit, not knowing what he could do, he fled to the wilderness of Midian to become a shepherd (Exodus 2:13-15). This “not knowing” led him to God. As the saying goes, “When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first tests their resolve.” During these forty years, Moses moved from a luxurious palace life to a harsh shepherd’s life. Until one day, God appeared to him on God’s mountain and sent him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:1-2, 4, 6, 10). During these forty years, Moses traversed the wilderness, the thorns on his shepherd’s staff symbolizing how God was shaping him “unbeknownst to him.”
3. Coming to Moses’ final forty years, he moved from a situation of not knowing anything and being unable to do anything to becoming an outstanding servant who knew God’s will and by relying on God could do all things. Moses led approximately two million Israelites out of the house of slavery, repeatedly broke through enemy resistance or attacks on the journey, and shepherded God’s people in the wilderness, equipping them to enter the land God promised.
I see Moses’ ‘thorn’ as, on the one side, a crown of thorns – bearing a heavy mission, enduring unprecedented pressure and hardship – and on the other side, a crown of glory lying ahead but not yet visible to the eye (Matthew 17:3) – he became a masterpiece in God’s hands, accomplishing this magnificent feat that glorified God!
When speaking of overcoming weakness, one cannot fail to mention the crown of thorns worn by the Son of Man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Paul says: “He was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.” (2 Corinthians 13:4). Jesus appeared weak, but was actually strong. His obedience to God’s will appeared as weakness in the eyes of others, but was actually strong. Those who do not understand the truth that Jesus, in the form of a weak man, had to die on the cross for the world (Philippians 2:8), mocked him, saying he saved others but could not save himself (Matthew 27:39-42).
Jesus was crucified in weakness to demonstrate how completely Christ submitted to God’s arrangement, so that although within human limitations, he could absolutely, wholly rely on God’s power and still live. Similarly, if we are willing to submit to the leadership that allows our weakness, we will experience the great power God shows us. If we are united with Christ in his death, we will be united with him in his resurrection. And likewise, if for the sake of obeying God’s will, others see us as weak, in reality we are strong in the Lord. Conversely, if we disobey God’s will, even if we outwardly appear strong and powerful, in reality we are weak and powerless.
Taking Paul’s weakness as an example, this thorn carried the light of Damascus, illuminating multiple specific meanings, for instance: it made him remember he was a sinner, so he could not be proud; it made him think of God’s heart, enabling him to be tolerant and understanding of others; it also made him remember that he was not the king, only Christ is King. This thorn constantly reminded him that he was a sinner saved by grace, and he should not forget his original state. Paul ultimately became a martyr for the Lord, proving that the effect produced by this thorn in him far exceeded what anyone could imagine.
Paul, who witnessed for Christ – who was he, that he could so discipline his body, endure hardship, and stand firm in the truth? From his birth, God had been shaping Paul to become a faithful servant. Paul was a Hebrew, from the tribe of Benjamin in Israel. He was also a Roman citizen, enjoying privileges under Roman rule. In his youth, he studied under the highly respected Gamaliel, growing into the wisdom and knowledge surpassing others. As an apostle of the Lord, Paul wrote the largest number of books in the New Testament – who could compare with him? Yet, Paul said: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16). Despite such prominent identity, status, and achievements, he did not exalt himself, but often felt guilty and condemned himself for his past persecution of the church.
How can someone who has never experienced weakness sympathize with and forgive those who are weak? Paul’s weakness was the channel through which he received grace, ultimately leading him to martyrdom and sainthood. The thorn in his flesh accomplished the righteous crown he was about to receive (2 Timothy 4:8). From this, we can see that the highest pursuit in a believer’s life originates from weakness (the thorn). If we overcome our own weakness and practise mutual assistance within the church regarding these thorns and bearing one another’s weaknesses, we will surely receive the crown of glory in eternity.
With such a strong example before us for dealing with our own or others’ weaknesses, we can no longer say “I don’t know” or “I can’t do it.” Without the adjective “weak,” why would we need the adjective “strong” for contrast? Whether the two coexist depends on whether there is comparison. On the spiritual track, one’s own weakness and strength are mutual competitors. Paul’s strength overcame his weakness entirely because the Lord’s power covered him, enabling him to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). May God give us a heart of strength and love, enabling us to replace the negative with the positive, replace blame with encouragement, and use steadfastness to combat apathy.
The Lord was the shield and strength behind Moses and Paul. The respective backgrounds and journeys of both men went from rise to fall, and from fall to rise, making them outstanding figures in their historical eras, and becoming testimonies that glorify God. With such excellent witnesses, may we all learn to view the ‘thorn’ in our own flesh from two sides, living in this historical moment, and walking with the Lord in the “thorn”!
Finally, I conclude with this poem👇🏻
“Weakness or Strength” ✨
Stubbornness or Persistence—two sides of the same coin
Morning swim, undeterred by the hurricane—some call it stubbornness and others persistence
Weakness or Strength—lies in the race against oneself
Strength, not weakness—is found in seeing the Lord’s face through the thorn
The discerning eye recognizes grace
Experienced from the cross
✨✨💖 ~
en yan hua fang 