Note 18 at 2 Cor. 4:17: Paul's afflictions were not "light" because they were few in number or not very severe. He gave a partial list of some of the afflictions he endured for the Lord's sake in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. There he listed beatings, stonings, inprisonments and many other forms of persecutions which were much greater than most Christians today have suffered. Paul's afflictions were "light" because of his attitude towards them.

The difficulties we face in our service to Christ are small, little, slight and momentary, compared to our future life of eternal glory with the Lord. Nothing-no affliction, no troubles, no persecution that we face in this life-can compare to the more exceeding and eternal weight of glory reserved in heaven for us (1 Pet. 1:4).

If Paul had more afflictions than we do, and yet his afflictions were "light," then how can we justify complaining about our "heavy" burden? It's not our external situations that are the problem. It's the lack of being renewed in our inner man daily that is the problem.

Note 19 at 2 Cor. 4:17: Verses 17-18 give a very practical reason why Paul's afflictions were only "light" (see note 18 at this verse). It was because he evaluated every situation in the light of eternity. Any problem he encountered in this lifetime was only for a moment, compared to the eternity he would spend with the Lord. Just the time element of eternity shrinks the problems of this life into relative insignificance.

As bad as anyone's marital situation may be, it will only last for this lifetime (Mt. 22:30; Mk. 12:25). If we thought on the blessings promised us that will last throughout all eternity, we could rejoice through the worst of marriages. The worst any disease could do is kill us. That's not the end of existence. We will live forever with the Lord. Thinking on this will take the sting out of death (1 Cor. 15:55).

Any situation we face can be reduced to a manageable size if we will put it into the perspective of eternity (see note 5 at Jn. 14:2, p. 490).