I Corinthians 1:31 “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
There is something gratifying about being accepted based upon your merits. Maybe you applied to work somewhere or sent in a resume, or maybe you tried out for a sports team. Whatever the case, it feels good to be chosen or drafted because of your own merits.
But notice who God drafts in verses 26-28. God chooses the weak and the foolish-He has chosen “nobodies”-to bring “to nought the things that are.” There is nothing wrong with being accepted upon your abilities or merits; after all, no company or team looks for the biggest bunch of losers! Having gifts, abilities, and talents is not a bad thing; but it is interesting to notice that God has intentionally chosen the weak things of this world.
When it came to salvation, God called and you answered, and it is His righteousness-not yours-that provides for you salvation. When it comes to ministry, God called and you answered, and it is going to be God’s power-not yours-that will make your ministry all that it should be.
God will not receive the glory He could or should if the success you enjoy can be fully explained by your abilities. Verse 29 says, “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” And verse 31 says, “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” The gifts you have and the abilities you have were given to you by God. So then, God can be glorified if you use your talents; He is not glorified if you never use them.
But if all of the successes in your life and ministry can be fully explained by your abilities alone, you are not living up to your potential. If you can be explained fully by how much you know, how much you have experienced, or how great your personality is, God will not receive all the glory that He should or that He could receive.
Don’t rely on your talents, gifts, and abilities alone to be what you should be. Everything you lack the Lord Jesus is. Verse 30 says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Jesus Christ is made to us everything that we lack. Do you need wisdom? That is Christ. Do you need peace this morning? That is Jesus Christ. Do you need righteousness? That is Christ. Everything I am not, Jesus Christ is made for me in God.
Every time God calls, and we answer, we are better off than we would have been. Because God has called you, He will give you everything that you need for today. Whether you need wisdom for the day or righteousness for eternity, God will give it. And He will give it abundantly. And He gives, not just because He wants to be nice to you; God will give what you need because He wants to be the One who is glorified. Remember today that God is most readily seen when we are least seen . . .
Camp Quotes:
“Good habits come from grounded hearts.”
-Evangelist John Goetsch