November 2, 2016

Our Adequacy Is From God

Man Above the Clouds

There are times in life when every one of us, no matter who are are, feels inadequate. We might feel incapable of doing what we need (or think we need) to do. We might feel as though what we are doing is insignificant. We might feel as if we are unimportant to the world and to those around us.

However, we should not feel this way, especially as Christians, even though it may be tempting at times. Why should we not feel inadequate? Paul explained that “our adequacy [sufficiency, KJV] is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). Consider the text:

“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).

Paul understood that “our adequacy is from God” as we are “servants of a new covenant.” This allows us to have “confidence…through Christ toward God.” Let us consider how this applies to us.

Why We May Feel Inadequate

There are many reasons why we may feel inadequate. Let us consider just four:

  1. Unrealistic expectations placed upon us (by ourselves or by others) – There may be times when we fail to meet expectations because of laziness. Yet this is not about being unwilling to do something – God’s people are expected to be hardworking (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:10) – but about being unable. Sometimes we or others think that we can do more than we can realistically do. Paul told the brethren in Corinth, “For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12). In other words, God does not require of us more than we are able to do.
  2. Perception of others – Others may unfairly judge us for certain reasons. Yet we are not to be overly concerned with the opinions that others have of us. Paul wrote, “But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4). In the end, all that matters is what God thinks of us.
  3. We compare ourselves with others – It is tempting to feel inadequate because we cannot do something as well as someone else. But we need to remember that we all have strengths and weaknesses. God knew this and designed the church accordingly (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:14-27). It is foolish to compare ourselves with others. Paul wrote, “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding” (2 Corinthians 10:12). We simply need to focus on serving Christ rather than comparing ourselves with others.
  4. Our past failings – We have all sinned in the past (Romans 3:23), but we cannot allow these failings to hinder us. Paul was the “foremost of all” sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), yet he was able to faithfully serve the Lord. He told the Philippians, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Rather than allowing our past failings to hinder us from obeying the Lord, we need to learn from them and improve our service to Him.

Our Adequacy Is Not From Ourselves

Paul knew that “we are not adequate in ourselves” (2 Corinthians 3:4), yet we are often tempted to think that we are. This is the attitude of arrogance. It is the idea that we do not need God. This was the problem with the church in Laodicea. Jesus told them, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17). We are not to have this attitude. Instead, we need to recognize that “apart from [Christ we] can do nothing” (John 15:5).

This attitude of arrogance leads to destruction. The wise man said, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18). Yet Peter pointed out that if we humble ourselves, God will exalt us: “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:5-6).

Our Adequacy Is From God

Rather than arrogance, to understand that “our adequacy is from God” is the attitude of humility. This is necessary if we are going to serve God faithfully (Proverbs 15:33; Matthew 5:3). The Scriptures plainly teach that we are dependent upon God for everything that we need in this life (Acts 17:25; 1 Timothy 6:17; James 1:17).

How are we adequate in God? Consider a few reasons:

  1. We are the “children of God” (1 John 3:1). We have the right to become such by faith (John 1:12).
  2. He is for us – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31). Since God is for us, then nothing can “separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
  3. He sent His Son to die for us – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). We have been “justified by His blood [and] saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Romans 5:9).
  4. He has given us everything we need – “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). We lack nothing that is necessary to please the Lord and carry out His work.
  5. He has “equipped [us] for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) – This has been done through the word He has revealed.
  6. He has provided a “way of escape” for every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). We never have to sin.
  7. We “can do all things through [Christ]” (Philippians 4:13). We can endure every situation and circumstance in our lives – whether we are “having abundance” or “suffering need” (Philippians 4:12) – through the blessings that God has given us.
  8. We have a home in heaven – “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

All of this is true as long as we are faithfully following God. Since “our adequacy is from God,” we need to be doing His will. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:21). If we are doing this, we can have “confidence…through Christ toward God” (2 Corinthians 3:4).

Conclusion

There may be times when we feel inadequate or when others try to make us feel this way. But we are fully sufficient in the Lord to do and to be what He expects of us. Therefore, let us be less concerned with what others (including ourselves) think of us and remember what God thinks of us. Then let us faithfully do what He has called and equipped us to do.

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