Metrics of Success

2 Corinthians 10:9-18

Jody Robertson

February 15, 2126

What are our metrics of success? Ie, how do we measure success? The world and the Lord measure success very differently. People opposed to Paul would measure themselves against Paul, appealing to popular opinion. They would preface their assertions about Paul by beginning with "they say." It was a way of saying that most people agreed with them rather than with Paul. 

These people contended that Paul might write strongly worded letters that put people down, but sounded weak, was chicken, when with them. Furthermore, he was just not a good speaker. (verses 9,10) They tried to build themselves up by putting Paul down. They contended that if Paul were truly a godly man, he wouldn't have so many health problems.

These kinds of people were also in other churches that Paul founded. He spoke of them in his farewell address to the leaders of the church at Ephesus. (Acts 20:26-29)

In 11 Corinthians 12:9,10, Paul responded to the criticism that he was a weak person. He noted that his weaknesses were useful for God to show His power. We note that Moses, Jeremiah, and Abraham all had weaknesses that God used to show His power. And Jesus came to earth as a helpless baby! In contrast to these men, our human tendency is to show off our strengths and hide our weaknesses. 

In Matthew 19:16f, a man came to Jesus who was rich, young, and had all the earthly marks of success. But to have what he most wanted and needed, he needed to become weak. He could measure his wealth, physical strength, and other standards of secular success. But he couldn't measure any spiritual growth. He didn't have any measurement of closeness to God. 

But Paul could boast of God and how He worked. Verses 13-16 lead into Paul boasting about the Lord in verse 17. There, Paul quotes Jeremiah 9:23-24 and states that our boasting is in what God does. 

John the Baptist's ministry was only for eleven months. But Matthew 11:11 shows how great he was. We might feel, as John felt, that our ministry has not had much success. But like the missionary couple returning from decades of ministry with little apparent success, we are not home yet either.  

For Further Thought

If you have a clear sense that you have been doing what God called you to do, are you confident of that metric of success? 

As you live your life, what metrics of success do you recognize, and what do you not recognize?

Summary by Elton Nelson