day no. 16,304: the weakest weakness of the weak and the strongest strength of the strong

Romans 15:1-3a

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself

The strong owe the weak their strength. They are obligated to demonstrate their strength by putting up weakness. After all, if they can't, who can? If the strong are unable to lift heavy weights, how else is left? Weakness is weighty and the weak cannot get out from under it. They cannot put up with themselves, let alone bear up under the burdens of others. They cannot live for others because they are caught up in living for themselves. They are stuck staring at their own pleasure. That is what makes them weak. They can't look away. They look only to their own interests and not to the interests of others. They do all things out of selfish ambition and vain conceit. They proudly refuse to consider others.

Strength is being able to look to the needs of others. So, if you are strong, you are obligated to look to others. If you refuse to use your strength in this way, you are only demonstrating that you are too weak to do so. In other words, your perceived strength is a confirmation of your weakness.

One of the worst failings of the weak is that they imagine they are the strong ones. They read verses like this and imagine themselves as the strong martyrs who faithfully bear the burdens of those below them. Their weakness is imagined strength. They cannot see the weakness of their own position. They are too weak to resist the temptation to see themselves as strong.

So, if you are strong, show it by serving those who do not deserve it. Anyone can serve someone who deserves it. Anyone can pay what they owe without feeling guilty about it. But only the strong can pay what they do not owe and obligate themselves to those who refuse to recognize their efforts. The weak cannot be expected to recognize great effort. They are not strong enough to pay respect. They are too cheap to give credit where it is due. The strong are sturdy enough to be overlooked and to bear the lack of appreciation they receive in turn for all their efforts. 

The weak cannot stand being unappreciated. They rage against the perceived ingratitude of their peers. The strong stand unappreciated and yet grateful to God for the strength they receive from Him to do so. The strong know their weakness and surrender it to God. The weak know only their imagined strength and suffer for it.

The weakest weakness of the weak is that they imagine that they are strong.

The strongest strength of the strong is that they know that they are weak.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses…For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses... For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The greatest failure of the failing is not seeing their failure.

The greatest victory of the victorious is is seeing their failure.