For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison… ESVUK

These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. The Message.

It has to be said that Paul isn’t writing specifically about old age in verse 16 (although he may have had it in mind to some extent, and his words are applicable to it). He is talking about suffering for the gospel.

What this verse shows is that any suffering in the cause of Christ will be rewarded (Mt.19:29; Rom.8:17; 2 Tim.2:12). I do not believe that God belittles any suffering for His Name, however small it may appear to us. Such suffering is not meritorious, but it is a reward: a gift freely given by God.

We would not naturally describe Paul’s sufferings as ”light momentary”, but as Hodge points out: ‘It was only by bringing these sufferings into comparison with eternal glory that they dwindled into insignificance.’

We have seen in this letter so far that the glory of the Old Covenant is now surpassed by the glory of the New Covenant. But now we see that there is immeasurably greater glory to come. It is ”eternal”, weighty ”beyond all comparison”.

PRAYER: Lord, increase our hope. Make the future glory more and more vividly real to us. Give us new perspective in suffering. Help us to be willing to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.