Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of Scripture from 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 10 ¹² For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
To commend is to express approval of, to praise, or to mention as worthy of attention. Many people like to speak highly of themselves. They boast about their achievements while patting themselves on the back. When you boast, it is to speak with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about oneself. Rather than giving God the glory, they actually praise themselves which is a form of self-worship.
James 4 ¹⁵ For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. ¹⁶ But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Some people will openly boast about their own immoral behavior. They will commend themselves, even though the things that they do are outside the will of God. This was going on in the Corinthian Church. There was fornication going on among them, and rather than feeling penitent about it, they were puffing themselves up. Rather than being ashamed, they were glorying about it.
1 Corinthians 5 ¹ It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. ² And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
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⁶ Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Just because somebody toots their own horn, doesn’t mean that they are doing what is right in the eyes of God. The Apostle didn’t compare himself to those who were doing such things. We are not supposed to use the world as a role model, but become transformed by the teachings of Holy Scripture. The Lord Jesus is our perfect example of who the heavenly Father wants us to become like. There is nothing good in the carnal nature which is why we must remove everything sinful in our lives and replace them with things of God. No matter how much somebody may pat themselves on the back, in order to enter eternal life, we must be found worthy in the eyes of God, rather than ourselves.
2 Corinthians 10 ¹⁷ But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. ¹⁸ For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
When somebody attempts to live Godly in Christ Jesus, they are going to enter into persecution and suffering. The world is caught up in a lie, so when you speak the truth in Christ, many of them are going to speak evil about you. The world doesn’t want to submit to the will of God,…..and if they are the ones who are praising you, then something is very wrong in your life. Friendship with the world is enmity with God.
Luke 16 ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4
The Apostle Paul was involved in a lot of things in the church, but they weren’t done to be noticed by others. He rejected the praise of men, and wanted people to give the glory to God.
1 Thessalonians 2 ⁵ For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
⁶ Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;” 1 Corinthians 3:21
The ministers are not the important ones in the church, God is.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:7
The Lord Jesus warned about those who seek their own glory.
“He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” John 7:18
“And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.” John 8:50
Many people claim to be religious, but it is only on the exterior. What they truly seek after is the praise that comes from men, rather than from God.
Romans 2 ²⁸ For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
John 12 ⁴² Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: ⁴³ For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
In order to enter into eternal life, we will need to hear the words… “well done thou good and faithful servant.” This is praise and honor that comes directly from the Lord Jesus Christ as He grants us admission into Paradise. The honor that comes from men is both vain and temporary, but the honor that comes from God is eternal.
“How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” John 5:44
“Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:” John 8:54
Some people glory in outward appearances and do religious activities simply to be noticed by others. Their works are not motivated out of a love for God, but the love to be seen.
“For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.” 2 Corinthians 5:12
“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,” Matthew 23:5
But what the world thinks of a man of God is irrelevant, in comparison to being commended by God. The Apostle was not a people pleaser,…he was seeking to please God.
“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4
I don’t think there is anything more vain than a room filled with people who sit around and puff each other up with self-oriented praise. They glory in themselves rather than in God. They become so proud that they will compare themselves to each other, rather than compare themselves to the one that God the Father sent into this world, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. To be a follower of Christ means to become like Him in our hearts, and this obviously cannot happen if people’s minds are focused on each other, rather than God.
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Ephesians 4:13
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalms 107:31
The church is a place where we become lesser than, and God becomes greater than. It’s a place where we glorify the things that God does, rather than taking credit for His achievements. It’s a place where we praise the Lord, rather than….
……Tooting Your own Horn
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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