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Healthy or Unhealthy Boasts?
Rod Shimabukuro2 Corinthians 10:15Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
This portion of Paul’s letter includes a defense of his strong, weighty instructions and commands. It appears that when people live “less than”, under or beneath what’s expected of them, they automatically get defensive. It seems this way with some of the Christians in Corinth, responding by measuring, comparing and judging each other by appearances.
There’s also a battle between living by the Gospel (Jesus principles) and living according to the world and it’s spiritual influences.
The boasting in verses 15-17 directs Christ followers to boast in the Lord alone. Paul’s boasting is connected to the preaching and life of the Gospel. But some found their boasts in measuring, comparing, judging others.
What a mind game…!
1. What I feel God is personally warning me about, is mentally comparing and measuring my life, talents, results - with others. YUK!
2. Then I wrestle with the temptation to judge others - questioning their motives, ambitions, etc. Double Yuk!
3. Like Paul, I want my sphere of activity to greatly expand for Jesus sake. Preaching the Gospel, for Paul and the apostles meant LIVING the Gospel. And living the gospel means making my boast in Jesus - not myself, not others.
On social media in particular, Christian ministries/churches boasts are calculated in accomplishments or successes and measured by numbers of… There’s a healthy balance somewhere in all of these “boasts of churches, ministries and ministers.”
A big part of the answer for me is to constantly check in with my hearts motives and ambitions. I have some unhealthy ones creep in at times -and this is when I intentionally make my boasts in Jesus, who He is, what He is doing and accomplishing - in and through me.
Thank You again Lord Jesus and Spirit of God, for Your deep, convicting work in my heart. Now please help me to respond in purity, integrity and love. Your fulness has filled my life and heart, and I choose once again, to live form Your grace and presence. I love boasting in and about You! May I preach the Gospel with a life that backs it up! I love You!!!!!
