Boast in the Lord

 

If you have an inferiority complex, maybe these verses will raise you up and make you feel and think more aright.

"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of your were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.  It is because of Him that You are in Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written:  "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NIV).

These verses almost sound like insults to the Corinthians but I believe Paul is just being frankly matter-of-fact to show contrast.  He said that not many of them were wise, influential, of noble birth, that they were weak, lowly and despised.  Yet, praise the Lord, God did choose them and proved a point.

In Bible times and indeed even in the 1700 and 1800's and into the early 1900's, class distinctions were the painful norm.  Strict adherence to which eschelon you had came from must be observed at all times and cost.  For instance, woe be tied to anyone of noble birth falling in love with a slave!

Therefore, what Paul wrote was amazing and what must have been shocking albeit free-ing terms to the Corinthian letter recipients.  But Paul directs them to God.  It was God who had chosen them, the 'foolish' by human standards, to confound the 'wise' by human standards.  He wanted to show them that it had been God who had raised them up, given them wisdom, showing His power and righteousness, holiness and redemption to the world of the 'upper class' who felt themselves to be the wise and better ones.  Showing His wisdom to the 'lowborn' that He is faithful and is/was the one who had raised them up.  It was NOT from themselves.  Jesus Christ who had given them 'the raise' and equalizing and so if they wanted to boast, they should boast in the Lord and not in themselves.

Brothers and sisters-in-Christ, we can be remined of what we have and who we are, in Christ.  Think on it when you are made to think you are 'less' than someone else.  Remember you are 'more', in Christ.

Have a blessed day and go on your way rejoicing and boasting in Christ.

Father God, I'm smiling right now because of the wisdom, influence, nobility and so on, we have gained through Christ.  He is our King and therefore we are nobility, actually royalty!  In You we can be witnesses to Your power, love and grace, to shame those who would look down on, hurt or harm us.  We have You to thank.  

Thank You for Your wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption.  In You I'll boast as well as in Jesus' name through whom I come to You in prayer.

                                                     ~ERC  October 2023~

Based on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NIV.

Sing, First Corinthians 1:28-31, along with The Bible Song.