What was Paul not seeking for himself?
Paul was not seeking power, circumstance, or political clout for himself. He cared for none of those things, preferring to be a nobody so that God could use him. He gladly endured weaknesses and infirmities so the power of Christ might rest upon him, focusing solely on taking the Gospel to a lost world.
Les explains that Paul was not wishing for power, circumstance, or political clout; he cared for none of that. Instead, as long as he could be a nobody, God could use him. Paul faced insurmountable odds in strange territory, taking the Gospel to pagan Gentiles who knew nothing of the God of the Bible. The Jews never evangelized, so Paul entered cities like Antioch, Derbe, Lystra, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth—all abject pagan. He endured weaknesses, beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, cold, heat, thirst, and the thorn in the flesh, all for the sake of the Gospel. He gladly gloried in infirmities so the power of Christ might rest upon him, focusing solely on the lost world.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.