As the Scriptures say,
“If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” When people commend
themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to
commend them.
Who likes to hear someone
talk about himself again and again? It soon gets old, and you have a tendency
to stop listening. Living this Scripture is an absolute necessity. If you do
something great, don’t boast about it. It is wonderful that it is great, but it
is only great because the Lord has either allowed it or willed it.
God gave us life not for our
own benefit, but to benefit someone else. Life is not about what we want or how
we feel or how we might like to prosper. When we are self-consumed, we miss
what is necessary to live a joyful life. Life has little meaning when we self-promote
our achievements instead of acquiring the peace He imparts through a humble
spirit.
The Pharisees were
self-consumed with their own righteousness, and wanted to be sure that others abided
by their interpretation of the law. They liked to be known for “doing good”—praying,
serving, speaking their truth over God’s truth. Jesus pointed out an example of
their hypocrisy. “When you pray,” he said, “don’t be like the
hypocrites who love to pray publicly
on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I
tell you the truth,
that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your
Father in private. Then your
Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:5-6, NLT).
If you wish to share your
achievements, give God the glory. Don’t make them more important than the Lord
who granted them. Your own commendation amounts for very little in the eyes of
others. What is important is that the Lord comments them. This is often unseen
by others—only recognized by you. And it becomes your “pearl”—something God has
brought forth in your life that you could never have done on your own. Others
may never know, and that is fine. He has placed His Hand upon your life, and
that is enough.
©
2018 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com/2018/08/his-commendation.html
No comments:
Post a Comment