The Wrong Standard
2Cor 10:12, 17-18 NLT
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! 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.
Paul had such a strong understanding of where his strength and ability came from. The Lord had changed him from being a highly ambitious hard driving legalistic Pharisee to someone much more impressed by the Lord than the efforts of man. He is making this point clear to the church at Corinth. Remember, this was the church that was caught up in preachers and identifying with people more than the Lord.
Paul says that comparing yourselves with other people is ignorant. By comparing yourself with others then you are seeing man as the standard of measurement. By declaring how wonderful and important you are, again you are using man as the standard of comparison and that is ignorant. It’s not that Paul was against people. Paul simply understood that man was not the standard. Comparing yourself with other people leads to pride or insecurity.
Paul believed in what the scriptures said. He quoted the prophet Jeremiah about only boasting in the Lord. Paul was repeating a quote from his first letter to the Corinthians “he that glorys let him glory in the Lord”. Modern translations use the word boast. We might say today to brag. If we are going to brag, we need only brag about the Lord. Whatever we have done pales in comparison with what the Lord has done for us. And what do we have that we did not receive?
Paul goes on to say if you are commending yourself, it does not count for much. But if the Lord commends you, then you have something. If the Lord says you are doing good, it doesn’t matter what people say. And if the Lord is not pleased, then it doesn’t matter what people say even if they are singing your praises. Paul understood that man was the wrong standard.
Application
I grew up around people who bragged, and I never liked it. I was always uncomfortable when people bragged about themselves and even if they bragged about me, I never enjoyed it. When I came back to the Lord and came around preachers that bragged, I liked it even less. I still cringe today when I hear preachers built up and exalted by other preachers. It’s fine to be appreciative, but if we are going to brag, let’s brag about the Lord. All men have flaws, but He is the perfect One that deserves all our praise. Jesus is the standard that we compare ourselves with. When we do that, we realize what we are without HIm. Thank God we are not without Him so that makes us a grateful people not a boasting people.
Prayer
Lord, may I appreciate people but only boast in You.