"Boast in the Lord”

“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 10:16-17 ESV)

We know we are to be humble in our service to the Lord, but how we feel or may not feel about being humble is important. Are we humble or humbled? Is there a difference? I believe that we can act humbly by giving God the credit for what He has allowed us to do for His glory, but that very power can also humble us permanently. Is there a difference?

If we are humble because we are told to be humble, then the emotion is about us. Even in humility, we can be prideful and self-serving if that makes sense. We are acting humbly out of a sense of obligation. For instance, we might say, 'look at what God let me do,' or 'God allowed me to do this in “my” ministry.' We give the credit to God while professing our righteousness. This can be due to a lack of spirituality or a worldly need for recognition.

When God humbles us, our eyes are opened to the depth of our weaknesses, and our humility is born in our hearts. Paul frequently addressed the issue of boasting. Paul’s Christianity was constantly called into question. In 2 Corinthians 16, Paul is clear, “boasting in the Lord.” We see many preachers today boasting about themselves, their services, and their relationships with God, rather than God Himself.

Paul boasted in his weakness. Most of us think weakness makes us useless, but have you considered that your weakness is why Christ will or does use you? Our weakness is an asset. In our weakness, there is no boasting. We have been humbled and have witnessed the power of God. If God has metaphorically hugged you, or you “felt” the love of God,  you realize it was a gift. But we do not boast about it, we relish it because it may never happen again. Most often, we remain silent about it, or we tell someone who knows us well enough to understand that we are not boasting, but are overwhelmed by the experience.

Paul was so careful about this that when he spoke of his experience with Christ, he did it in the third person: “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—  and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— (2 Corinthians 12:2-5) Paul, letting us know that this encounter with Christ was greater than most people will ever experience, was not going to boast about it but boasted about his weaknesses instead.

This is how we must be every single day when we preach, teach, evangelize or relate to others; we go before others in our weakness, in our servitude, not to impress. If we do not, Satan will take what we do and use it for evil. When the power of God truly humbles us, there is no boasting within us. We cannot because we have come to know, have felt, or have witnessed the power of God. Our weakness, taken to heart, acknowledged, and welcomed, allows God to use us to our full potential, knowing that He alone will be glorified in everything He does through us.

Have you experienced the power of God? Do you know him as your Savior? Has Jesus supernaturally changed your heart? If you do not know Him, seek Christ today. When you do, you will come to understand, as a loved one always says, you are not all that and a bag of chips, too; God is. Knowing Christ is not just important, it is urgent and significant, for your eternal life depends on it.

Grace and Peace!