Celebrating Weakness

As Paul winds down his argument in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians he gives a reason why God does things the way He does. He says in verse 29, "...so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
As humans we have a tendency to elevate ourselves - to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. That's probably why God designed things the way He did because He knows our tendency toward boasting. We strive to work hard and produce. We seek advanced degrees. We spend hours trying to perfect our technique. Often we do so with a tinge of pride in ourselves. We tell ourselves and our children that we can do anything we set our minds to - that we can do it! We love to be in position of "omnipotence" from which we can display to others our glory. (Now I am not saying that working hard, or gaining degrees or perfecting technique is bad. In fact, we should do these things, but in doing them we should be careful of boasting.)
Fortunately, God has a way of bringing us down to reality. He has a way of orchestrating life so that in the end we boast in God and not in ourselves.
In Gen 47 we see Jacob's family, in the midst of famine, in a situation where they could not provide for themselves, actually flourishing. While the rest of Egypt is selling all they have and making themselves servants to Pharaoh, Jacob's family is flourishing in Goshen - the best of the land. God had so ordered events to promote the welfare of His people in a way that would cause them to see the real hand behind their prosperity. They could not boast in their achievement, but could readily boast in their God who had miraculously cared for them according to His promises.
In Luke 1 we also see two women in their weakness being recipients of God's mighty workings. Elizabeth is old, well past her child bearing years, yet according to the Lord's promise and purposes she becomes "with child", and a significant child at that (John the Baptist). She could not glory in her accomplishment, for she knew this was the Lord's doing. She could only glory in the One who had brougth it to past.
Mary, as well, was not in a position to be bearing a child. She was unmarried. Yet the Lord came to her and said she would have a child "by the Holy Spirit". She had been chosen by the Lord to bear the "Holy One of Israel", and all Mary could do was glory in the Lord. When she asked how this could be done, the angel reminded her that "with God nothing is impossible".
Back in 1 Corinthians Paul says, "For consider your calling brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many of noble birth." And why would God choose the foolish, weak and common of this world to do His work? There is only one reason, so that we would boast only in the Lord and not steal His glory.
Are you feeling inadequate these day, inferior to others? Do you bemoan the fact that you are not as intellegent as others, as powerful as others, as __________ as others (you fill in the blank)? If so, remember it is the Lord's way to use us in our weakness so that we are not tempted to boast in ourselves, but always to boast in His wise and powerful ways. This day let us celebrate weakness as an opportunity to trust and boast in our Lord.