Text: “…a thorn in the flesh was given to me…”
(2 Corinthians 12:7)
What is a thorn? The American Heritage Dictionary says that a thorn is a modified branch in the form of a sharp, woody spine. It can cause sharp pain, irritation, or discomfort.
How many of you have ever been struck by a thorn? I have been stuck numerous times by thorns. I remember, as a small boy and living in the country, we picked blackberries and raspberries. I was stuck more than once when reaching in to pull a berry off the vine. A couple of years ago, I removed some old rose bushes from around our house and guess what – rose bushes have thorns. Regular gloves will not prevent the sharp thorns from sticking your finders. When it is time to prune rose bushes, the thorns are there and you must be very careful or you will get stuck.
Have you ever walked through the weeds and found these little prickly things sticking to your socks or pant legs? These are little round balls of thorny spines. When you try to pull them off your clothing they prick your fingers. If you have ever had a sliver of wood in your finger or toe it hurts and causes irritation. All of us have undoubtedly been stuck by some type of thorn.
Did you know that people can also be a thorn? Have you ever said that so and so is a “thorn” in my side or somewhere else. Why do we say this about people? We say this about some people because they irritate us. These people may criticize us, talk about us, make life difficult for us, cause problems for us, or even try to disgrace us in some manner. In other words, they make our lives miserable, exasperating, infuriating, maddening, annoying and we don’t like it.
We all have thorns in our lives. Many people have faced the thorns and made them roses. Thorns can be in the form of sickness, such as cancer, leukemia, diabetes, heart attack, or stroke. We can have thorns that incapacitate us: loss of a limb (hand, foot, leg, arm, finger(s), or toe(s). We can have the thorn of blindness or deafness. The thorn of paralysis, paraplegia
(complete paralysis of the lower half of the body) or quadriplegia (complete paralysis of the body from the neck down). Some thorns in life are easier to cope with than others. Thorns can bring about positive or negative changes in our lives.
A thorn can be a habit, such as drinking, gambling, or the use of drugs injected or sniffed. It is a thorn to the individual addicted, but more of a thorn to the ones that love him. This individual is not the same person he or she was before the habit took control. The alcoholic who leaves work and spends his wages in a bar becomes a thorn in the side of his family. The next drink takes priority over everything else in that person’s life. The individual addicted to gambling believes that the next card hand or the next race bet will be the big one, so he or she bets away all the hard earned wages. There is nothing left and this person also becomes a thorn in the side of the family. The individual on drugs wastes his money to destroy his life and the life of his family and becomes a thorn in the life of the family.
Paul said he was given a thorn in the flesh. We are not really sure what this thorn was. Scripture does not name Paul’s thorn. Some think it was malaria while others think it was epilepsy. It has also been speculated that Paul’s thorn was an eye disease. Galatians 6:11 might back up the thought that Paul had an eye problem because it says; “See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!” Paul wrote the end of Galatians with his own hand. He usually dictated his writings, but signed them with his own hand writing.
In 2 Corinthians 12:1, Paul says, “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast…” Paul is saying that he must go on boasting, although there is nothing to be gained. I will go on and tell you about the visions and revelations of the Lord.
When this Scripture is first read, it sounds like Paul just wants to boast (brag, show-off, toot his own horn). Sometimes each of us has a tendency to boast about something that we have or something we have done. For example, we might talk about the new house we just purchased and mention that it only cost us $500,000.00. We might insist showing everyone we meet pictures of our wonderful family and inform them of all of their accomplishments. We might continuously boast about our work, how much money we make, and why we deserve what we have. In each of these examples, we are placing the focus of attention on ourselves. Paul was not doing this.
Paul was given vision a and a revelation from the Lord and he wanted to share it with the people. Paul said, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2). Paul is boasting, but the focus of attention is not on Paul. The focus of attention is on God.
Some people believe this took place after Paul was stoned. Acts 14:19-20 tell how the Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the multitude and they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. After the crowd left, the disciples gathered around and Paul got up and went into the city to preach. Perhaps during the time of the stoning, Paul was given this vision and revelation. Paul indicates that he was caught up to the third heaven. He does not know if this took place in the body or in the spirit. Paul does not boast in order to put himself on a pedestal. Just to be sure this did not happen, “…a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure” (v. 7). Paul did not want the thorn and prayed three times that God might take it away. God did not take it away but said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9).
God is love, so why does he give us thorns? There is no question that God is love and he has showered us with many wonderful blessings. If we take inventory of our past, it would be impossible for us to list all our blessings. Some people, maybe some of you sitting here, have had thorns in their lives. Sometimes people consider negative happenings in their lives as thorns. For example, if a child is born with a physical malady or handicap, parents may become hurt, upset or discouraged. These parents have two choices. They can look at the positive side or they can look at the negative side.
I have heard Evangelist David Ring speak numerous times. David is a shining example of an individual suffering from a human weakness, a thorn if you will, but with God’s help used that weakness to preach the Gospel. David was born October 28, 1953 and suffered from cerebral palsy. David said that he could not speak plainly, he could not walk like the other children and he could not use his hands and arms like everyone else. David suffered much because of the remarks of the other children. He said his mama loved him and he was very close to her. David became an orphan at the age of 14 years. No one wanted him, so he went from family to family never finding a home. David was in much pain, both physical and mental. He was constantly being ridiculed in public. For David to become discouraged was very easy. He was told that no one liked him and that he would never amount to anything. People told him that he would never get married and have a family. Today, David has a beautiful wife, three beautiful daughters and a very handsome son. All this came about because David formed a personal relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God showed David how to accept his physical problem and turn it into a blessing and a victory. David turned a thorn into a blessing.
David touches some 100,000 people each year. He speaks at approximately 200 churches a year. David has been on programs like the Old Time Gospel Hour, John Hagee Ministries and Focus on The Family.
God did not remove Paul’s thorn as he did not remove David Ring’s thorn, but it he did humble both of these people and both used their infirmities to glorify God. God is able to bring good out of difficult and discouraging situations.
In verse 8 Paul said, “Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” Paul had an issue and he talked to the Father about it. Did God ignore Paul’s request? God did not ignore Paul’s request, but he chose not to respond with the answer Paul was looking for. This very thing happens to us. Many times we pray for a specific want or need and our request seems to go unanswered. We must realize that God does not think like us. He thinking is on a superior level which is to our benefit. God always grants us more than what we ask for, but he grants it on his time schedule. The very fact that we go to God in prayer is an indication that we are seeking God’s will.
The answer to Paul’s request is in verse 9. “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’” God is saying his sustaining influence will allow Paul to continue preaching and teaching the Word. God is telling Paul that the thorn, whatever it was, will not interfere with his ability and desire to continue in his ministry. David Ring’s thorn did not prevent him from working for the Lord. Because of God’s grace, we, too, will be able to glorify God with the talents afforded us, regardless of the thorns we’ve been given. Under God’s grace (undeserved favor) we will be able to bear the pain of any thorn. There is no doubt that God could remove a thorn from us, but sometimes he chooses to just give us the power to endure it.
Paul’s weakness or our weakness could become the place of God’s power. There are other handicapped people in the world, besides David Ring, who have done great and wonderful works for their family, community, church and God. Joni Erickson Tada, in 1967, dove into the shallow water breaking her neck and turning her into a quadriplegic. Joni now has a world-wide ministry ministering to the disabled. God took Joni’s thorn and turned it into a rose.
It is in our weakness that divine power finds its strength. When we are weak in ourselves then we are strong in the grace of God. Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (v. 10).
Our biggest weakness can become our biggest strength.
Story: “Ten-Year-Old”
There was a ten-year-old boy who decided to study judo, despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.
“Master,” the boy finally said, “shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”
“I realize that this is the only move you know, but this may be the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the master replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the master took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged. The boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy made the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the master intervened.
“No,” the master insisted. “Let him continue.”
As soon as the match resumed, his opponent rushed in on him. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy won the match and the tournament. He was now the champion.
On the way home, the boy and master reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.
“Master, how could I possibly have won that tournament with only one move?”
The master turned to the boy and answered, “You won for two reasons. First, you have been able to master the most difficult throw in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move that you have mastered is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”
The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength. (By Robert Vogel)
The thorns of life are many, but the grace of God is sufficient in our weakness.
Poem: “A Creed for Those Who Have Suffered”
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey—
I asked for health that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
I am among men most richly blessed!
Amen.
