An Eternal Weight of Glory

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.


We read in 2 Corinthians 4 that all our affliction is light and temporary compared to the glory we shall receive. Not only that, but they actually contribute towards that coming glory! But which of our afflictions bring an “eternal weight of glory”? Do the sins that we commit every day? Does something small like missing an airplane flight add to the glory I shall receive? 

So firstly, do my sins and their consequences become part of the affliction that works an eternal weight of glory for me?

Scripture makes it clear that the answer is ‘yes’. God may use our sins to bring us to the end of ourselves and make us despair of anything but Him. That’s what He did to the Israelites in Jeremiah 2:19:

Your own wickedness will correct you,
And your backslidings will rebuke you.
Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing
That you have forsaken the LORD your God
And the fear of Me is not in you,”
Says the LORD God of hosts.

God also demonstrated this in the New Testament. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:8, “We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life”. The point here is not Paul’s sin, but the way God works. It was to make him rely on God who raises the dead, and not on themselves. Therefore our sin can work eternal glory for us by humbling us, and making us fall on God alone. God in His mercy can make our sin so despicable to us so that we cry out to Him and throw ourselves on His mercy. So sin can contribute to us inheriting a weight of glory.

However a word of caution is in order. It would be terribly misleading to say that our sins work for us an eternal weight of glory. In that case there would be no reason for me to strive against sinning! However, sin in the Christian life is precisely what diminishes the weight of glory for the believer. We must all face a judgement and receive our rewards, or not, according to the fruit of the spirit in our lives, whether good or evil (2 Corinthians 5:10).

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

So if we go on sinning, it’s like building with wood hay and stubble, which is going to be no weight of glory for us. Rather it is going to diminish our weight of glory. Paul says to the Romans, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” He answers with an emphatic negative in the next verse. We have been made free from our sin that previously held us captive. Our deliberate sinning is not adding to our weight of glory. Rather the opposite.

Having said that, there is affliction that is caused by sin that could bring us eternal benefits. There is damage when we sin that can last a lifetime. David’s child died because of his sin (2 Samuel 12:14). He lost his child—a loss that lasted him a lifetime. You might have a car crash when you’re going 70 in a 50 zone—that is sin and you’ll be paralysed the rest of your life because you broke your neck sinning. Will that affliction, caused by sin, function to bring you to a greater weight of glory? It can indeed. Not all the effects of sin are bad. God can use them to make you rely more on Him, and that’s how our affliction works glory for us. It makes us rely more on God.

What about losing a soccer game? Is that part of the afflictions that work for us a weight of glory? What about missing an airplane flight? Do they count?

I think all of our afflictions can be put onto a scale from easy to horrible. Where would you draw the line? Which ones qualify for working out our glory and which don’t qualify? All our troubles from the smallest to the greatest have a potential to make us sin by grumbling and not trusting the goodness and wisdom of God. That moment, that trouble, can make you sin, and it can become an occasion for casting yourself on Christ. Any trouble from the smallest hiccup to the greatest horror has the potential for working for us an eternal weight of glory. The issue is whether it throws us on God as our help and our treasure and our joy. Whoever overcomes their tiny afflictions produce big fruits of holiness, which are a big part of our reward.

So have comfort in your afflictions. They are light. They are but for a moment. And they are working for you a glory far above all afflictions you shall receive on this earth.



Related posts:
- Sins Turned to Our Benefit
- Comfort in Suffering