FRIDAY, MAY 12
1 Corinthians 3:18-23
Luke 20:19-25

"Therefore let no
man glory in man."

BOAST NOT IN MAN!

When we experience success in ministry, it is easy to become puffed up in our minds. Preachers will boast about their ability to exegete and captivate the crowd. Sunday School teachers will take pride in their wonderfully crafted lessons and the attention afforded to them by their adoring Sunday School students. Musicians swoon in their talent to charm the hearers with their music. They soon begin to boast in self and worldly wisdom, rather than rely on the heavenly wisdom of the Holy Scriptures.

Paul then sought to put all pride away. He forcefully declared that any man who thought himself wise in the things of the world was deceiving himself. Worldly and heavenly wisdom do not mix! If you are wise in worldly things, you are a fool in things spiritual. Rather, become a fool in worldly things, than be a fool in the eyes of God!

Paul proceeded to quote Job 5:13 and Psalm 94:11 to support his arguments. The LORD will put all who are wise in their own conceit into His pocket. Nobody can go into a battle of wits with God and win. Many sought to trap the Lord Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry, but none of them succeeded. Read Luke 20:19-25 for one such example. The religious teachers who sought to trap Jesus were totally outwitted!

The Corinthian church was full of such men who thought themselves to be wise and drew attention to themselves (see 2 Cor 10 and 11). Some of them accounted themselves to be super apostles who were even above Paul. Paul wanted such proud and conceited men to know that such boasting would turn out to be in vain. No man should boast about self, or in his own wisdom. Neither should they hero-worship any man. Their sole object of worship in life must be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom they must love with their entire being. Let our boast be in Christ, and not in man.

THOUGHT: How can I guard myself from self-deception?
PRAYER: Lord, may Christ be my focus each day.