1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Samuel Morris graduated from Yale in 1810 and wanted to pursue a career as a painter. After spending some time in England and returning to America, the art community recognized him as a gifted artist. However, after the death of his wife, his grief turned him away from painting to seek a more rapid form of communication that could span over long distances. This pursuit led to his innovation of the telegraph and the “Morris Code” used worldwide until the mid-twentieth century. Although notwithstanding his worldly fame and the many honors he received, he was not proud or boastful, he was once was said concerning the telegraph, “the more I contemplate this great undertaking, the more I feel my own littleness, and the more I perceive the hand of God in it and that God assigns to various people their calling.”
In this verse today, Paul confronts the arrogance and pride of the church at Corinth and by application all people down through the ages. Paul deflates the bubble of any claim of superiority that they or anyone has over other people. Paul used the word “receive” twice in this verse, which alludes to the fact of gaining something that we may not have deserved. The point is since all that we have, all that we are or ever will have or become, is a gift from God, what gives us the right to boast or brag about anything?
God has made us all distinctive and different, but His love, grace, and mercy applies to all people, regardless of our race, creed, age, social or monetary standing, or our country of birth. All that we are, or ever will be, all that we have or ever will have is a gift of God through His great love, grace, and mercy. All that we can do is cultivate our talents, but the gift comes from God, not through anything we deserve. Humility always assigns the glory to God, not to us. Pride will always rob us of spiritual growth and spiritual power. All the glory, honor, praise, admiration, and fame should always go where it rightfully belongs, and that is to the creator of all in heaven and on earth, our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:31).
The three questions found in 1 Corinthians 4:7 should stir up our owns hearts, spirits, and souls with three other questions. First, do I truly give God the glory and credit for my salvation, or am I trusting in some good works I might have done? Second, do I live with a true spirit of gratitude for all that God has given me and give Him all the glory? Third, do I understand that all that I have or am is because of God? Then we should ask ourselves, what can I do for Him?
If You would like the Verse of the Day sent to your daily E-Mail send a request
in the Comments" section. Please include your e-mail address
No comments:
Post a Comment