Philippians
2:16-18; Boasting
You can tell what is important to people by what they boast about…or in today’s age, what they post about.
Sampling Facebook today, people are posting about weight loss, how far they ran, exploits of their children, how many chores they got done, their sports teams, how awesome worship was last night, songs from their favorite bands, and what country in Europe you are most like (the UK!). And there is nothing wrong with that. We talk about what is interesting or important to us.
I wonder what would be on Paul’s Facebook page…selfies in prison, what Old Testament prophet he is most like (Obadiah!), pics of the scars from the beatings he had received, cities pinned from his journeys, the wreckage of boats he had been on…it is interesting to think about.
Throughout the course of his letters, you can tell what is important to Paul. He typically boasts about four things:
1. The Lord – 1 Corinthians 1:31. This is the number one thing Paul talked about. Paul was overwhelmed by the grace of Jesus Christ – every conversation flowed out of this topic.
2. The faithfulness of his churches – The passage above talks about this. Paul’s churches were his children – their pictures would be all over his wall.
3. His weaknesses – 2 Corinthians 11:30. How often do you boast about your weaknesses? Does your status update ever say, “Praising the Lord today for being a big fat liar...or for judging everyone I see…or being fearful…or loving the praise of man!” Paul teaches us that God is strong in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9). If we are fearful, the Spirit will make us bold. Paul revels in his weaknesses because that is where God is doing the greatest work in and through his life.
4. His suffering for Christ – 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. In this passage, Paul says that he is speaking worldly when he boasts of this, but the idea of boasting in what you have suffered for the Lord is a very different thought for us. Our suffering is shared with Christ. We become more like Him and grow closer to Him when we suffer for Him. Say that three times fast…
So the question for us is: what do you boast in? Do you focus on “your” accomplishments or what God is accomplishing in you? God has an amazing plan to use you to encourage, challenge, heal, teach, and feed His children. God can use selfish and sinful creatures like us to build His Kingdom in this fallen world…now that is something to boast about!
“And then I will be able to boast on the day
of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured
out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith,
I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Please forgive the formatting - everything went crazy today!You can tell what is important to people by what they boast about…or in today’s age, what they post about.
Sampling Facebook today, people are posting about weight loss, how far they ran, exploits of their children, how many chores they got done, their sports teams, how awesome worship was last night, songs from their favorite bands, and what country in Europe you are most like (the UK!). And there is nothing wrong with that. We talk about what is interesting or important to us.
I wonder what would be on Paul’s Facebook page…selfies in prison, what Old Testament prophet he is most like (Obadiah!), pics of the scars from the beatings he had received, cities pinned from his journeys, the wreckage of boats he had been on…it is interesting to think about.
Throughout the course of his letters, you can tell what is important to Paul. He typically boasts about four things:
1. The Lord – 1 Corinthians 1:31. This is the number one thing Paul talked about. Paul was overwhelmed by the grace of Jesus Christ – every conversation flowed out of this topic.
2. The faithfulness of his churches – The passage above talks about this. Paul’s churches were his children – their pictures would be all over his wall.
3. His weaknesses – 2 Corinthians 11:30. How often do you boast about your weaknesses? Does your status update ever say, “Praising the Lord today for being a big fat liar...or for judging everyone I see…or being fearful…or loving the praise of man!” Paul teaches us that God is strong in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9). If we are fearful, the Spirit will make us bold. Paul revels in his weaknesses because that is where God is doing the greatest work in and through his life.
4. His suffering for Christ – 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. In this passage, Paul says that he is speaking worldly when he boasts of this, but the idea of boasting in what you have suffered for the Lord is a very different thought for us. Our suffering is shared with Christ. We become more like Him and grow closer to Him when we suffer for Him. Say that three times fast…
So the question for us is: what do you boast in? Do you focus on “your” accomplishments or what God is accomplishing in you? God has an amazing plan to use you to encourage, challenge, heal, teach, and feed His children. God can use selfish and sinful creatures like us to build His Kingdom in this fallen world…now that is something to boast about!
“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
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