What is proof to us might not be proof at all. Last week, when I was reading through 2nd Corinthians, I came to chapter 11 and I began to think how differently we validate God’s presence and authorization today. When Paul’s authority and leadership were in question, he did what any good leader would do: he appealed to what validated him, and what precisely proved that he had the authorization to do what he did.   

What he didn’t do was appeal to numbers to justify his greatness. You know how that would go; I planted ______ number of churches worldwide, I have preached to ______ number of people under that tent, I have baptized or converted ______ number of people among the gentiles. Look, here’s my picture with the president, look at the letters after my name, look at the books and magazines I have published, the ministries I have started, and the money I have given.

Paul decides not to include these numbers. Instead, he wanted to leave no doubt concerning who he was or where his authority came from, so he offered the real evidence of his apostleship. While others were boasting of their human achievements Paul decided to go another direction.  

First, he makes sure that every one knows his family heritage (11:22).  
Second, he defines his title/ office—servant (11:23).  
Third, he lists his honors; imprisoned, whipped, beaten, stoned (11:24-25a).  
Fourth, he lists travel difficulties (11:25b-27).  
Fifth, he lists his burden and love for all the churches he had founded (11:28-29).  

Wow, what a difference; he lists troubles that he had endured instead of achievements and accomplishments. To Paul, validation was not in achievement; anyone can do that without God. The reward of success can keep anyone going, building, and achieving. No, for Paul, the proof was in the endurance. To endure without reward, keeping pace with God when there was no immediate result, this required endurance.  

Paul was clear of mind; what validates a person is not his/her achievement, it is his/her ability to endure even when there is no reward in this lifetime, or at least the reward is so distant that connecting the dots in nearly impossible.  

But wait, it gets better; in the next chapter, he won’t even claim his endurance as something for which he will take credit. He claims that in these times of weakness, God sustained him. So what really validates him is not what he has accomplished or endured, but what he endured by the grace of God. Before you add up what you have or haven’t accomplished, you need to remember that in eternity what counts is what you endure by the grace of God. Grace motivated endurance is the genuine proof of God’s help, not human achievement. There is nothing wrong with achieving things; it just doesn’t really tell us who we are, and it is what we endure by depending on God’s grace that makes a person genuine.  

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT