Bragging Rights

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!
2 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

If anyone had bragging rights back in his day, it was Paul. We've talked about his résumé before. I love his writing in 2nd Corinthians! He has such a way of taking issues down to the most basic reality of Truth. There is only one God and we're not Him. It's true that if we compare ourselves to some people, we certainly might appear to be wonderful or even important. However, when we compare ourselves to a sinless, perfect God, what do we see? The Truth.

Everything we have - everything we are - apart from God? Filthy, just filthy. We have no bragging rights. And if God chooses to promote whatever talent or skill HE has given us, why then, we still don't have bragging rights because it's all God.

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You that You have given us the understanding to be able to know You. We want to know You more. We recognize and acknowledge that You are Lord. You exercise kindness, justice and righteousness on earth. Guide us into all Your Truths. Help us to walk in Your statutes of kindness, justice and righteousness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.