"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?" 1 Corinthians 4:7
Each of us is unique with certain gifts and abilities. Paul asks, "who makes you different from anyone else?" The answer is obviously, "God." We cannot take credit for those things that we do well or those areas in which we may excel beyond others. We are what we are and we are able to do what we are able to do through the gracious work of God in our lives. Paul also asks, "What do you have that you did not receive?" The answer is "Nothing." What we have as well as what we are able to do is a gift from God. So there is no grounds for boasting of our abilities or possessions but there is a need to faithfully steward our abilities and possessions. "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Father, I thank You for what You have entrusted to me. I ask you to help me to be neither proud nor discontent but to faithfully steward this awesome trust to Your glory.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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Thank You Pastor Mark,
ReplyDeletePride can be a very dangerous thing if allowed to creep into our hearts.It is one of the things that I personally have to guard against.Having been self sufficient(or so I thought)my entire life before Christ rescued me,I took pride in my accomplishments and abilities.Now I realize they were all a gift from GOD.Even before I accepted Christ as my savior,GOD was my creator and the gifts were from HIM.Now my responsibility is to use these gifts to further HIS kingdom.I know I do not want to stand in front of HIM on judgement day and say I did nothing with these gifts.
Holy Father thank you for everything I am and have.I pray I that I will use Your gifts in a way that satisfy You and not the world.