For we dare not class
ourselves
or compare ourselves
with those who
commend themselves.
But they, measuring
themselves by themselves,
and comparing
themselves among themselves,
are not wise.
We, however, will not
boast beyond measure,
but within the limits
of the sphere which God
appointed us -- a
sphere which especially includes you.
2 Corinthians 10:12
-- 13
False
apostles are false because they take a wrong method and that method is to
compare themselves among themselves.
How is this? All one has to do
to see this in action is to watch some of the Christian programs, and see that
one pastor, or another, one who calls himself an apostle, and another, all
patting themselves on the back and pride in themselves for what they have
become and what they have done. They
have prided themselves in their own attainments. This is not a wise thing for
people to do as this makes them unwise.
This is nothing new for Paul had to address this as well in his day and
this is what he is doing in these verses.
Some would say that we should never compare ourselves with others but
this is not necessarily true if that comparison drives you to be humble as when
you see others who may excel you, and then we should be pleased in thankful for
those gifts and graces that others have and are using to spread the gospel of
Jesus Christ. We are never to be so
prideful as though there were no others that can be compared to us or excel
us. Paul shows his heart and as much as
that he would not boast beyond the measure that fell into the limits of the
sphere with which God had appointed him.
We are also not to pride ourselves or boast because we have certain
gifts while others do not but we must humbly stay within the limits, or the
sphere with which God has placed us.
Paul ensures that the Corinthians fell into a sphere. How then do we keep ourselves from this
prideful or boastful exercise of our faith?
There are several ways to consider.
This one is most important aspect; we are to have an abandoned
identification with Jesus Christ. Paul
had told the Corinthians in first Corinthians Chapter 13, that it is, the Holy
Spirit Who sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts, and that we are to have that
perfect love expressed in our actual life.
We give you a little help here: exchange the word love for the word Lord
and then be facts come home for Jesus is the love of God incarnate. This abandoned identification has its
foundation in the words of Jesus:
"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John
17:16). God has made it very simple
for us and we are not to just pat each other on the back and commend each
other as though the gifts of God that was given to you have made you somewhat
better than the others: no! We are not
of this world we are to be the image, the very image, of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ and God then expects His love to be manifested in our everyday
lives. Don't make this mistake as many
have or use it in a very wrong manner and that is to imagine that your service
for other's springs from the love of others.
Notice what I said: springs from, or has the foundation of; this love
for others is the fundamental fact that the supreme love, or our abandoned
identification is that of the supreme love we have for our Lord alone and by
this we have the motive power of service to any extent for others. We love the Lord Jesus Christ first and
that extends to others. If the Lord
Jesus Christ does not have our first love then anything we do for others is for
our own gratification and as Paul said this is not wise. We must identify ourselves with God's
interest in other people and God has an interest in very extraordinary
people. How's this? His interest in you and in me, and He is
just as interested in the person you may dislike who has Him in them as He does
in you. If we look back at our past it
may not be the prettiest pictures for your natural heart was far from God but
now God has saved you and your heart has changed. You were and maybe even now misunderstood and
misrepresented. You may be one who misunderstood
and misrepresented others by saying that they were wrong and that you were
right. Then God came and you heard the
word of God and God gave to you that free--gift of grace through His words. Not the words of men who are commending
themselves thinking that they are somehow superior in their faith, no, the word
of God spoken to you and you had spring--cleaning, and you dealt with your
sin. The greatest thing that God could
do to you other than saving you from your sins is that He gave you the Holy
Spirit. Then you find this extra
ordinary alteration in your life and you become abandoned by your
identification to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now this is important: do not think of this great marvel of experience
of your salvation that it is not the alteration of that others see in you, rather it
is the alteration you find in your self.
Now we can only come in the Lord Jesus Christ to others and especially
to those who are in great need to hear the word of God and to convert their
souls to Him if you are abandoned to Him. By the grace of God
you are now what you are, His child, and by this you will notice that you are
filled with astonishment and Joy. The
past is gone, this past that was full of resentment and bitterness, and now
there is a well of sweetness. May God
grant us not only the experience of the indwelling of the love of God in our
hearts, but you go onto a hearty abandoned to that love so that God can pour it
out through us for His purposes of the world. Jesus Christ by the will of God the father broke His life to redeem us and now He wants to use our lives as a sacrament to
nourish others.
A fool has no delight in understanding,
but in expressing his own heart.
Proverbs 18: 2
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
the
wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
Proverbs 18: 4
May God be merciful to us and bless us
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