2 CORINTHIANS 1
12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicityand godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. – 2 Corinthians 1:12-18
2 CORINTHIANS 1 NOT BY EARTHLY WISDOM BUT BY GOD’S GRACE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As children of God, everything we do is by God’s grace
Without God, we are nothing so we cannot brag
Boasting is not a behavior that God’s people engage in
We rely on God’s grace for our talents and abilities
When we acknowledge God, we will manifest humility
There is no room for boasting to all those who love Him.
Have you ever encountered a boastful person who thinks highly of himself and has no room for listening or acknowledging others? Don’t you want to run away from them? Arrogance is a worldly trait that focuses on bragging about their own abilities and showing them off to appear like they are more superior than others. I think that the root of arrogance is “insecurity.” If you are secure about who you are and what you can do, there is no reason to boast or prove that you are good at what you do is the better option.
In this letter, Paul addresses the importance of recognizing that everything we have or any abilities we possess come from God alone. It is God’s prerogative to give it to us by his grace alone. We cannot take credit for anything because God made all things and he alone is in control and has the option to take it away from us. We’re under his grace.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think boasting and Christianity do not go together?
