Boasting

DEVOTION

2 CORINTHIANS

BOASTING

2 Cor 10:12-18

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory. 17 But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."   18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

NIV

We find a long comment here, yet all about one thing, which is boasting about ourselves. It even addresses the boasting about our own work, our own endeavors which do not include what we are doing in the service of God. If we compare ourselves to ourselves then we have a great person to measure ourselves against. That seems really dumb but that is what many people may be guilty of. When we think we are doing all we can do or that we are doing our best, is that not what we are doing? What we should be boasting about is what the Lord has gifted us with for the purpose of the furtherance of his kingdom. If we boast in any of our abilities, even those we say are our natural born, or God given natural abilities it may still be boasting in our own self. But if we serve the Lord in an area we have no talent of our own than we can only boast about God. We should confine our boasting to the field God has assigned us to. We need to be very careful not to commend ourselves for any effort we put forth in this world. Yet we often see people plaster their walls with commendations to give themselves credentials among other people or impress them with their achievements. We should confine our boasting to what God has called and empowered us to do for the benefit of his kingdom. In fact our boasting should be about the result God brings about by our obedience to his call on our life. We are but vessels for his service. That verse which declares we can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives us strength is not about what we do in the world for the world, or for ourselves, but is it all about what we are called to do for God, no matter what kind of worldly training we have, if fact, the more our work for God has nothing to do with our worldly training, the more we can boast in him. Our activity should be about the Kingdom of God, not about making ourselves better. We need not be concerned about working for the praise of people, but surely for the praise of God. If we cannot boast about God, we cannot boast.