2 Corinthians 10: 12 – 18
Magicians ought to change their names to Charlatans. They can’t really create magic; they just use distraction to fool us, pointing with his right hand while doing something else with his left.
When residents in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were asked about the bad habits of drivers that made the highways unsafe, most felt that others caused more problems than they themselves. One woman said that she talked on her cell phone a little, but at least she didn’t dial the phone numbers while on the road. She concluded her comments by stating that others “aren’t following the rules of the road . . . . They put us all at risk.”
When I was lost in my addictions, I always looked down on the homeless bums that were drunk in the streets of Boston. After all, I had a job and a car that wasn’t my house. And all those junkies passed out in the corners of rooms, I had a job, I didn’t steal to get my drugs, I didn’t commit crimes to support my habits.
It’s our nature to point a finger at others. The apostle Paul talked about fellow teachers who avoided looking at their own behavior and instead attacked him.
12 Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
13 We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.
14 We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.
15 Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.
16 Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory.
17 As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”
18 When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.
When we don’t look at our own actions but instead compare ourselves with others, we often come out looking good. But, as Paul said, it’s the Lord’s commendation that counts, not our own approval of ourselves.
If you must compare yourself with someone, compare yourself with Christ.
How’s that workin’ for ya?
Magicians ought to change their names to Charlatans. They can’t really create magic; they just use distraction to fool us, pointing with his right hand while doing something else with his left.
When residents in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were asked about the bad habits of drivers that made the highways unsafe, most felt that others caused more problems than they themselves. One woman said that she talked on her cell phone a little, but at least she didn’t dial the phone numbers while on the road. She concluded her comments by stating that others “aren’t following the rules of the road . . . . They put us all at risk.”
When I was lost in my addictions, I always looked down on the homeless bums that were drunk in the streets of Boston. After all, I had a job and a car that wasn’t my house. And all those junkies passed out in the corners of rooms, I had a job, I didn’t steal to get my drugs, I didn’t commit crimes to support my habits.
It’s our nature to point a finger at others. The apostle Paul talked about fellow teachers who avoided looking at their own behavior and instead attacked him.
12 Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
13 We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.
14 We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.
15 Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.
16 Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory.
17 As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”
18 When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.
When we don’t look at our own actions but instead compare ourselves with others, we often come out looking good. But, as Paul said, it’s the Lord’s commendation that counts, not our own approval of ourselves.
If you must compare yourself with someone, compare yourself with Christ.
How’s that workin’ for ya?
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