GOD’S COMMENDATION OVER MINE
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (ESV)
The confidence of children is mind-blowing and hilarious. My brother has two boys, ages 4 and 6, and they love to show how strong they are. They’ll flex their biceps, throw sticks, push furniture, squeeze toys as hard as they can, help move heavy things around the house and challenge the adults several times their size to wrestling matches. Watching them grow by testing their strength, experimenting and pushing their limits is awesome.
The boys have often boasted about how strong they are, challenged me to a test of strength and gotten clobbered (yeah, I’m that uncle). Sometimes they pout about their crushing defeat, but more often than not, they’re excited to see how strong I am. But their eyes light up when I tell them how strong they’ve gotten. How they almost had me, or it’s only a matter of time before they can beat me. Sure, they want to show off their strength, but more than anything, they want my approval. They want to hear me tell them that they have what it takes.
This childlike desire for affirmation from the people we love is beautiful. Unfortunately, far too many people lose this as they get older. Their confidence turns to arrogance, and the need to prove oneself is no longer a natural step of growth, instead becoming a desperate need to measure their value by their success, especially compared to others.
Sadly, this arrogance also bleeds into the church. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul addresses people in the church of Corinth who lift themselves up by putting him down. He provides a sobering reminder: Everything good that you have, have ever gotten and will ever get is from God—the place you were born, the benefits of your upbringing, your abilities, your intellect, your experience, your opportunities, your successes, the learnings from your failures, your home and the things in it, your body, your salvation, your faith, your relationship with Him, and so on.
God’s approval matters more than anything else in this life. True confidence is knowing where every good thing in your life came from, and humility is giving God the glory for His provision.
APPLICATION: Each time you pray for the next few days, list out a few things God has given you, no matter how small or trivial, and give Him glory for those things. Offer them back to Him to remember how much He’s given you.
PRAYER: Father, You’ve given me so much. Give me eyes to see where You’ve provided and a heart that constantly gives You the glory for it. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?