Real Strength
We have a tradition at our preschool every Thursday morning. After our singing and Bible story time, one of the classes gets to help me put the communion table back in its proper place. We move it each week so we can have activity singing that we all enjoy! I don’t really remember how it started. But, each class looks so forward to doing it. It is such a small thing but kids really do get into such small things. So, they all get on the sides and end of the table while I get on the end to pull it into place.
Now obviously, I can move it myself. (For those of you who do not believe that, just know that I move it out of the way all by myself!) But, not one of those precious little children could move it by themselves very well. They need help. When these 6 to 8 children get around that table, it is amazing how much work they can do!
Their working together compounds the amount of work that any one of them could do individually. That is, the amount of work they can do as a team helping each other is far more than just double the work amount of any one of them. The work is exponentially greater!
Paul declares in Colossians 1:11 that we have been strengthened by God to carry out His will. “…strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy…”
Here is what Paul is saying. God provides exponential strength to His children to be patient and longsuffering with joy in ways that far surpass any individual’s own strength. God gives us exponential strength! He, working with us, makes it possible to do things we could never do on our own!
Contrariwise, the world defines strength in ways that take God out of the discussion. For the world, strength is all about taking care of oneself by oneself. Real strength does not need the help of anyone else. Sure, there is value in getting help from others, but real strength resides in the person not in another person or place. That is why there is so much emphasis on independence.
Independence is the sign of real strength. Independence is the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want. Though everyone recognizes the value of rules for a society, independence has the potential to create a self-reliance that is detrimental. Anytime anyone thinks they don’t need anyone else in this life, everyone else becomes less important than they are.
The danger of the thought of independence for a Christian then is the danger of focusing less and less upon God and what only He can provide, opting instead for relying on self in all areas of life. Paul made another statement that we must remember. In II Corinthians 12:9, God reminded Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” That is why he would also say that he was glad to weak for then he was really strong. Now, that is real strength!
— Mike Johnson
