2 Corinthians 10

7th July 2024 - La Porte Preach 2 Corinthians 10

PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS

Salama daholo...enga anie ka hahazo ahy ianareo anio, fa tsy maintsy miteny miadana aho. Manohy isika dia mifantoka amin'ny Korintiana faharoa toko fahafolo rehetra, dia mangataka an'i Fano aho mba hamaky azy io ho antsika.

THE PASSAGE READ

OPENING PRAYER

Let’s pray:

Father God, you are the source of all life and light, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Open our hearts this morning to hear your Word, may you speak to our hearts through your Holy Spirit. Overcome my slow, poorly pronounced Malagasy, so that we may hear your Word today and put it into practice, for the sanctification of our lives and for the glory of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.

Hiaraka ivavaka isika alohany anombohany

Andriamanitra Ray ô, Ianao no loharanon’ny aina sy ny fahazavana rehetra, ilay nahary ny lanitra sy ny tany. Sokafy ny fonay anio maraina hihaino ny Teninao, Ianao anie hiteny ao am-ponay amin’ny alalan’ny Fanahy Masinao. Ampio aho mba hiteny mazava, mba ahenoinay ny Teninao sy ampiharanay izany, ho fanamasinana ny fiainana ary ho voninahitr’i Jesoa Kristy, amin’ny anarany, Amen.

INTRODUCTION

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord”.

Izay mirehareha dia aoka NY TOMPO no ho reharehany

That is what Paul tells the Corinthian Church to do. As you already know by now, Paul wrote at least four letters to this church, and 2 Corinthians is the fourth letter. But would you believe that Paul already told the Corinthians to boast in the Lord, in 1 Corinthians? It’s true, you can find it in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:

Izany no nasain’i Paoly nataon’ny Eglizy tany Korinto. Araka ny efa fantatrareo izao, dia nanoratra taratasy efatra farafahakeliny ho an’io fiangonana io i Paoly, ary ny Korintiana faharoa no taratasy fahefatra. Mino ve anefa ianareo fa efa nilaza tamin’ny Korintiana i Paoly mba hirehareha ao amin’ny Tompo, ao amin’ny 1 Korintiana? Marina izany, azonareo jerena ao amin’ny Korintiana voalohany toko voalohany, andininy eninambyroapolo hatramin’ny faharaikambytelopolo

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise…so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Mba hevero ny fiantsoana anareo, ry rahalahy, fa tsy firy ny olon-kendry araka ny nofo, tsy firy ny olona mahery, tsy firy ny avo razana; fa ny adala amin’izao tontolo izao no nofidin’Andriamanitra hampahamenatra ny hendry... mba tsy hisy nofo hahazo hirehareha eo anatrehan’Andriamanitra. Fa avy aminy no nahatonga anareo ho ao amin’i Kristy Jesosy, izay natao fahendrena avy amin’Andriamanitra ho antsika, ary koa fahamarinana, fahamasinana ary fanavotana, mba ho araka ny voasoratra hoe: «Izay mirehareha, aoka NY TOMPO no ho reharehany.

In 1 Corinthians, the church is weak, unwise and lowly and that is why they should boast in the Lord. But in 2 Corinthians, Paul preaches to a transformed church, filled with proud, arrogant leaders who boast in themselves. These leaders think that they are superior and important. The same message still applies: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Ao amin’ny 1 Korintiana, ny fiangonana dia malemy sy manetry tena ka izany no tokony hireharehany ao amin’ny Tompo. Ao amin’ny 2 Korintiana anefa, i Paoly dia mitory amin’ny fiangonana efa niova, feno mpitarika miavonavona izay mirehareha amin’ny tenany. Mihevitra ireo mpitondra ireo fa ambony sy manan-danja. Mbola mihatra ihany io hafatra io: Izay mirehareha dia aoka NY TOMPO no ho reharehany.

It is both a comfort and a challenge for the preacher when the message he preaches speaks to his own life. Pride is something I am always tempted to, so I am comforted that Scripture has a lot to say about killing pride to help me. But it is also difficult to apply what I hear from the Bible about killing pride. Maybe you are the same.

Sady fampiononana no fanamby ho an’ny mpitory teny rehefa miresaka amin’ny fiainany manokana ny hafatra toriany. Ny avonavona na ny fireharehana dia zavatra maka-fanahy ahy foana, ka mampahery ahy fa ny Soratra Masina dia manana zavatra betsaka momba ny famo[no]ana ny avonavona na ny fireharehana mba hanampiana ahy. Sarotra anefa ny mampihatra izay henoko ao amin’ny Baiboly momba ny famonoana ny avonavona na ny firehareh[an]a. Angamba ianareo koa.

Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. With this teaching, Paul outlines two characters – firstly the person of pride, who boasts in himself, and secondly the person of humility, the one who boasts in the Lord.

We will be thinking about these questions, you don’t need to answer now.

What makes a person prideful? What do we Christians need to be careful to avoid?

What makes a person humble? What does it mean to boast in the Lord?

Izay mirehareha dia aoka NY TOMPO no ho reharehany

Miaraka amin’io fampianarana io, i Paoly dia manoritra karazana olona roa – voalohany ny olona mirehareha, izay mirehareha amin’ny tenany, ary faharoa, ny olona manetry tena, izay mirehareha amin’ny Tompo.

Hieritrerito mangina ireto fanontaniana ireto.

Inona no mahatonga ny olona iray hirehareha? Inona no tokony hotandremantsika Kristianina?

Inona no mahatonga ny olona hanetry tena? Inona no dikan’ny hoe mirehareha amin’ny Tompo?

THE PERSON OF PRIDE

Perhaps when you think of pride, you already have an idea of an arrogant person in your mind right now. Maybe a politician, or a celebrity who loves themselves. But the people of pride that Paul is thinking about comes from the church. The proud person is often much closer than we think, pride is a sin that can capture any of us. Paul says to the Corinthians in verse 7: “Look at what is before you. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.” So Paul argues that a proud Christian is someone who believes that he alone is in Christ. This might appear in many ways. Perhaps the proud Christian thinks that he alone knows the will of God, or that he alone knows the correct doctrine, or that he alone knows how to praise God in the best way.

Angamba rehefa mieritreritra ny hambom-po ianao dia efa manana hevitra momba ny olona miavonavona ao an-tsainao amin'izao fotoana izao. Mety ho mpanao politika, na olo-malaza tia tena. Avy amin’ny fiangonana anefa ny olona miavonavona izay eritreretin’i Paoly. Ny olona miavonavona matetika dia akaiky kokoa noho izay eritreretintsika, ny fireharehana dia fahotana izay afaka misambotra na iza na iza amintsika. Hoy i Paoly tamin’ny Korintiana ao amin’ny andininy fahafito: Mijery zavatra araka ny fisehony ihany ianareo. Raha misy olona matoky tena fa an’i Kristy dia aoka izy hisaintsaina izao indray: Fa tahaka ny maha an’i Kristy azy, no maha an’i Kristy anay koa. Noho izany, i Paoly dia milaza fa ny kristiana miavonavona dia izay mino fa izy irery ihany no ao amin’i Kristy. Mety hiseho amin'ny fomba maro izany. Angamba ny kristiana miavonavona dia mihevitra fa izy irery no mahalala ny sitrapon’Andriamanitra, na izy irery ihany no mahalala ny fampianarana marina, na izy irery no mahalala ny fomba tsara indrindra hide[ra]na an’Andriamanitra.

In Madagascar, we have many church denominations: FJKM, FLM, CEIM, FBB, FAK, Rhema, Jesosy Mamonjy sns sns. What do you think about those churches? Have you ever passed judgement over any of them and thought that we are in Christ, but they are not? What about younger, less mature Christians? Have you ever condemned them because they don’t have the same maturity as you? It is in these moments that pride can seize our souls. We need to remind ourselves that just as we are in Christ, so are our brothers and sisters. Now it is not prideful to disagree with our brothers and sisters about different things, like politics, or social issues. But I cannot think that I am in Christ without recognising that I am united in Christ with all of you here, with many other churches in Madagascar who call on the name of the Lord, and all of the followers of Christ around the world. Each person in Christ is worthy of the same dignity.

Eto Madagasikara dia manana antokom-piangonana maro isika : FJKM, FLM, CEIM, FBB, FAK, Rhema, Jesosy Mamonjy sns sns. Ahoana ny hevitrao momba ireo fiangonana ireo? Efa nitsara ny iray amin'izy ireo ve ianao ka nihevitra fa ao amin'i Kristy isika, nefa tsy ao izy ireo? Ahoana ny amin’ny Kristianina tanora kokoa? Efa nanameloka azy ireo ve ianao satria tsy mitovy fahamatorana aminao? Amin’ireny fotoana ireny no ahafahan’ny firehare[ha]na mahazo ny fanahintsika. Mila mampahatsiahy ny tenantsika isika fa tahaka ny maha ao amin’i Kristy antsika, dia toy izany koa ireo rahalahy sy anabavintsika. Tsy mirehareha ianareo raha tsy miombon-kevitra amin’ireo rahalahy sy anabavy momba ny zavatra samihafa, toy ny politika, na ny olana ara-tsosialy. Tsy azoko atao anefa ny mihevitra fa ao amin’i Kristy aho raha tsy tafaray aminareo ao amin’i Kristy koa, miaraka amin’ireo fiangonana maro hafa eto Madagasikara izay miantso ny anaran’ny Tompo sy ny mpanara-dia an’i Kristy rehetra maneran-tany. Ny olona tsirairay ao amin’i Kristy dia mendrika ny hanana haja mitovy.

But the person of pride does not want to be unified to other people, especially those that they think less of. Rather than be united to others, Paul says in verse 12 that prideful people: “measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another”. It is ironic that often those people who have a lot of pride also have a lot of insecurity in themselves. They are constantly looking to the left and the right at what other people are doing. In La Porte we have lots of people who represent different Christian organisations and have different ministries. And even though we all want the same thing, the reconciliation of the lost back to God and the transformation of Madagascar, I believe there is a temptation for us to be competitive, to want to succeed more than our brothers and sisters. Paul’s judgement on people who think in this way is simple: they are without understanding. They don’t realise that God has made us to be one body in Christ, with many different body parts with different gifts and skills. We need to work together.

Saingy ny olona be rehareha dia tsy te ho tafaray amin'ny olon-kafa, indrindra fa ireo izay tsy dia heveriny loatra. Raha tokony ho tafaray amin’ny hafa i Paoly dia nilaza tao amin’ny andininy faharoa ambin’ny folo ireo olona mirehareha dia mampitaha ny tenany amin’izy ireo ihany. Mampihomehy fa matetika ireo olona tsy manana fiheverana tsara ny tenany ihany no mody miavonavona. Mijery miankavia sy miankavanana hatrany amin’izay ataon’ny hafa izy ireo. Ao amin’ny La Porte dia manana olona maro isika izay misolo tena ny fikambanana kristiana samihafa ary manana asa fanompoana samihafa. Ary na dia mitovy aza ny zavatra iriantsika rehetra, dia ny fampihavanana ny very amin’Andriamanitra sy ny fano[va]na an’i Madagasikara, dia mino aho fa misy fakam-panahy ho antsika mba hifaninana, te hahomby kokoa noho ny mpiray finoana amintsika. Tsotra ny didim-pitsaran’i Paoly amin’ny olona izay mihevitra toy izany: tsy azony ny zavatra ataony. Tsy fantatr’izy ireo fa nataon’Andriamanitra ho tena iray ao amin’i Kristy isika, manana rantsambatana maro samy hafa, samy manana ny fanomezam-pahasoavana sy ny fahaiza-manao. Mila miara-miasa isika.

But the person of pride goes beyond just comparing himself to others, Paul accuses this person of being deliberately destructive towards other people. There are two sides to sinful pride, the raising up of yourself, but also the pulling down of others around you. Thinking that other people are beneath you, not as good as you. In 2 Corinthians, the same thing is happening. In verse 2, prideful people that Paul is contending against have accused him and his friends of walking according to the flesh. This is a great insult. In Galatians chapter 5, Paul names sins such as sexual immorality, sorcery, jealousy, drunkenness and rivalries as works of the flesh. So these prideful people were accusing Paul of engaging in all these forms of sin. They also insult him personally in verse 10: They say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” When the pride of a person is threatened by someone else, they often want to destroy that person by any means.

Ny olona miavonavona dia tsy mijanona amin’ny fampita[ha]na ny tenany amin'ny hafa fotsiny, i Paoly dia miampanga an'ireo fa manimba ny hafa koa. Misy lafiny roa ny avonavona feno fahotana, ny fanandratana ny tena, sy ny fanim[ba]na ny hafa manodidina anao. Mihevitra fa ambany noho ianao ny olon-kafa fa tsy tsara toa anao. Toy izany koa no mitranga ao amin’ny 2 Korintiana ao amin’ny andininy faha-2, dia niampanga azy sy ny namany ho mandeha araka ny nofo ireo olona miavonavona izay toherin’i Paoly. Ompa lehibe izany ao amin’ny Galatianina toko faha-5, i Paoly dia milaza ny fahotana toy ny fijangajan[ga]na, ny fanaovana ody ratsy, ny fialonana, ny fahamamoana ary ny fifandrafiana ho asan’ny nofo. Noho izany (noozan) dia niampanga an’i Paoly ho nanao ireny karazana fahotana ireny rehetra ireny ny olona niavonavona ireny. Manaratsy azy manokana koa izy ireo ao amin’ny andininy faha-10: Hoy izy ireo hoe: Fa ny epistiliny, hoy ry zareo, dia mavesatra sy mahery; nefa malemy kosa ny fanatrehan’ny tenany, ary tsinontsinona (no “o”s) ny teniny. Rehefa rahonan’olon-kafa ny hambom-pon’ny olona iray, dia matetika izy ireo no te hamotika izany olona izany amin’ny fomba rehetra.

Are you a person of pride? Here are a few examples that we can use to assess whether we have pride in our hearts:

Before making big decisions, how many people do you ask for advice? Do you seek the Lord for counsel? Or do you go your own way?

When another person, perhaps a brother in Christ for example, has good news or success, do you celebrate with them? Or are you unhappy?

As I’m speaking to you now about pride, or if another person speaks to you about sin in your life, is your first reaction to be defensive?

Is your house open to brothers and sisters in Christ, or do you worry about what people may say about your house and possessions?

Olona miavonavona ve ianao? Ireto misy ohatra vitsivitsy azontsika ampiasaina hanombanana raha manana fireharehana ao am-pontsika isika:

Alohan'ny handraisan/a fanapahan-kevitra lehibe, firy ny olona mangataka torohevitra? Mitady torohevitra avy amin'ny Tompo ve ianao? Mandeha amin'ny lalanao ihany ve ianao?

Rehefa misy olon-kafa, angamba rahalahy ao amin'i Kristy, ohatra, manana vaovao tsara na fahombiazana, miara-mifaly amin'izy ireo ve ianao sa tsy faly?

Raha miresaka aminareo momba ny avonavona aho izao, na raha misy olon-kafa miresaka aminao momba ny fahotana eo amin'ny fiainanao, dia ahoana ny fihetsikao voalohany? Fiarovana ve?

Misokatra ho an’ny rahalahy sy anabavy ao amin’i Kristy ve ny tranonao, sa manahy ny amin’izay mety holazain’ny olona momba ny tranonao sy ny fanananao?

We need to search our hearts with the Lord’s help and be honest with ourselves about whether we have pride in our life. Sometimes it can be rooted very deep. It can appear in many ways. Allow him to soften our hearts to deal with our sin.

Mila mandinika lalina ao am-pontsika miaraka amin’ny fanampian’ny Tompo isika ary manao ny marina amin’ny tenantsika raha toa ka manana avonavona eo amin’ny fiainantsika, satria afaka miorim-paka amin’ny fomba maro ao anatinsika izy io. Avelao izy hanamora ny fontsika hiatrehana ny fahotantsika.

THE PERSON OF HUMILITY

In our passage, Paul also presents the person of humility. Now it’s important to note that Paul puts himself forward as one who is humble. Our first reaction might be: Who is Paul to say that he is a humble man? It almost seems quite arrogant of him to say that he is humble. Well let’s look at what he thinks a humble person is and we will see if Paul fits that category.

Ao anatin’ny andalana hitantsika,[PAUSE] i Paoly koa dia mampiseho ny olona manetry tena. Ankehitriny dia zava-dehibe ny manamafy fa i Paoly dia nametraka ny tenany ho toy ny olona manetry tena. Ny mety ho lazaintsika voalohany dia izao: Iza moa i Paoly no hilaza fa lehilahy manetry tena? Toa tena miavonavona mihitsy izy raha milaza fa manetry tena. Andeha hojerentsika izay heveriny fa olona manetry tena ary ho hitantsika raha mifanaraka amin’io sokajy io i Paoly.

Sometimes, we get a wrong picture of what humility is. Often we think that it is the same as weakness, or that in order to be humble we have to allow people to take advantage of us. But in verse 1, Paul claims to be both humble and bold at the same time. How can this be? Humble people stand up for truth. Our world is changing where people don’t like claiming that they know the truth. This means there are many Christians who think that if they don’t speak the truth, then they are being humble. But all this does is allow people to think false things. But Christians, we know the Truth, and his name is Jesus Christ. It doesn’t make us proud to say that we have the truth, because we didn’t do anything to attain the truth. Instead, the truth of the Gospel came into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. If we do not to stand up for that truth, we would be denying the one who gave us that truth and that is a prideful thing to do.

Indraindray isika dia diso hevitra momba ny atao hoe fanetren-tena. Matetika isika no mihevitra fa mitovy amin’ny fahale[me]na izany, na koa hoe raha te hanetry tena isika dia tsy maintsy mamela ny olona hanararaotra antsika. Ao amin’ny andininy 1 anefa, i Paoly dia milaza fa sady manetry tena no sahy. Ahoana izany? Satria mijoro amin’ny fahamarinana ny olona manetry tena. Amin’izao fotoana izao matahoatra ny olona hilaza ny marina sao dia ho lasa tsy manetry tena na hampatezitra ny hafa. Mi[di]ka zany fa maro ny kristiana mihevitra fa raha tsy miteny ny marina izy ireo dia manetry tena. Fa izany rehetra izany dia mamela ny olona hieritreritra zavatra diso. Fa fantatsika Kristiana ny Fahamarinana, ary Jesosy Kristy no anarany. Tsy mampirehareha antsika ny milaza fa manana ny fahamarinana isika, satria tsy ny zavatra rehetra nataontsika no nahazoantsika ny fahamarinana. Ny fahamarinan’ny Filazantsara kosa dia tonga ao am-pontsika tamin’ny alalan’ny Fanahy Masina. Raha tsy mijoro amin’izany fahamarinana izany isika dia mandà an’ilay nanome antsika izany fahamarinana izany.

Paul himself knows that he is in Christ. And he is ready to go to war for this truth, against anyone who would spread lies. In verse 5 Paul says he will “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience”. The humble man is not weak, he stands up for truth. Consider Jesus, he is full of humility. And how many times did he stand up against the proud boasts of the Pharisees. Matthew 23 for example, Jesus said that the Pharisees “love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others” but Jesus then says “whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”.

I Paoly mihitsy no mahalala fa ao amin’i Kristy izy. Ary vonona ny hiady ho amin’izany fahamarinana izany izy, hanohitra izay rehetra manely lainga. Ao amin’ny andininy faha-4 dia milaza i Paoly hoe: Mandrava ny fisainana sy ny zavatra avo rehetra izay atsangana hanohitra ny fahalalana an’Andriamanitra izahay ka mamabo ny hevitra rehetra hanaiky an’i Kristy, ary vonona hamaly ny tsy fankatoavana rehetra izahay. Tsy malemy ny olona manetry tena, mijoro amin’ny fahamarinana. Hevero i Jesosy fa feno fanetren-tena izy. Ary impiry izy no nanohitra ny fireharehan’ny Fariseo? Matio toko faha telo amby roapolo ohatra, Jesosy dia nilaza fa ny Fariseo: tia ny fitoerana eny anoloana any amin’ny fana[sa]na, sy ny fipetrahana eny anoloana eo amin’ny sinagoga izy ary koa ny hoarahabain’ny olona eny an-tsena sy ny hataon’ny olona hoe: Raby ô! Fa hoy Jesosy avy eo: Fa izay manandra-tena no haetry, ary izay manetry tena no hasandratra.

Ultimately, a humble person situates himself under the authority and guidance of God himself. When Paul speaks to the Corinthians in verse 1, he says he speaks with God’s meekness and gentleness. In verse 18, Paul is humble because he is commended by the Lord. Paul doesn’t commend himself, like the proud person, but his life is centred around God’s approval. To be humble is to submit yourself to God and centre your life and your priorities all around God, for his glory.

Ny zava-dehibe indrindra ho antsika dia ny hoe: “ny olona manetry tena dia mametraka ny tenany ho ambany fahefan’Andriamanitra sy ny fitarihany”. Rehefa niresaka tamin’ny Korintiana i Paoly ao amin’ny andininy 1, dia nilaza izy fa niteny tamin’ny fahalemem-panahin’Andriamanitra. Eo amin’ny andininy fahavalo ambin’ny folo, i Paoly dia manetry tena satria nankasitrahan’ny Tompo. Tsy midera tena toy ilay olona miavonavona i Paoly, fa mifantoka amin’ny fankasitrahan’Andriamanitra ny fiainany. Ny fanetren-tena dia ny fanoloran-tena ho an'Andriamanitra ary ny fiainanao sy ny laharam-pahamehanao amin'ny manodidina an'Andriamanitra, ho voninahiny.

This also extends to our work and the calling that God has placed on each of our lives. The only part of his own life that Paul boasts in is found in verse 13: “we will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you”. He puts it another way in verse 8: “For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed”. Again, Paul centres his work and ministry around what God has given him, authority and influence to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, and Paul has humbly accepted this calling and is now working with all the strength and skill that God has given him. As I’ve already said, the proud person uses his strength to destroy others, but Paul has been given authority from the Lord to build people up, this is the mark of humility.

Izany koa dia mihitatra amin’ny asantsika sy ny antso izay napetrak’Andriamanitra teo amin’ny fiainantsika tsirairay avy. Ny hany ampahany amin’ny fiainany izay nireharehan’i Paoly dia hita ao amin’ny andininy faha-13: Fa tsy mba hirehareha mihoatra noho izay tokony ho izy izahay fa araka izay voafaritr’Andriamanitra ho anjaranay. Averiny ao amin’ny andininy faha-8 izany: Fa na dia bebe ihany aza ny fireharehako ny amin’ny fahefana izay nomen’i Kristy anay ho fampandro[soa]na, fa tsy ho fandra[va]na anareo, dia tsy ho menatra ny amin’izany aho. Ny asa sy ny fanompoany indray no ifantohan’i Paoly amin’ny zavatra nomen’Andriamanitra azy, dia ny fahefana sy ny hery miasa mangina hitory ny filazantsara amin’ny jentilisa, ary nanaiky tamim-panetren-tena izany antso izany i Paoly ary ankehitriny dia miasa amin’ny hery sy ny fahaizana rehetra nomen’Andriamanitra azy. Araka ny efa nolazaiko teo, ny mpiavonavona dia mampiasa ny heriny hanimbana ny hafa, fa i Paoly kosa nomen’ny Tompo fahefana hampandroso ny olona, ​​izany no mariky ny fanetren-tena.

Every one of us has been given authority from the Lord, and an area of influence that he wants us to work in. Let us centre our lives around that calling and boast in he has given us. If you are a mother, your children are your area of influence to care and disciple them. Boast in what the Lord has given you. If you are a father, God has given you authority to lead your family, be humble in your calling. If you are a manager, you have authority from the Lord to govern that workplace with love and care for your employees. Boast in what the Lord has given you. If you work in the marketplace, humbly serve those who buy from you with honour and dignity.

Nomen’ny Tompo fahefana avy amin’ny isika tsirairay avy, sy faritra misy ny heriny izay tiany hiasana. Aoka isika hampifantoka ny fiainantsika amin’izany antso izany ary hirehareha amin’izay nomeny antsika. Raha reny ianao, dia ny zanakao no faritra misy ny herinao hikarakarana sy hampianarana azy ireo. Mirehareha amin’izay nomen’ny Tompo anao. Raha ray ianao dia nomen’Andriamanitra fahefana hitondra ny fianakavianao, manetre tena amin’ny antsonao. Raha mpitantana ianao, dia manana fahefana avy amin’ny Tompo hitantana ny toeram-piasanao amim-pitiavana sy amim-pitandremana. Mifalia amin’izay nomen’ny Tompo anao. Raha miasa eny an-tsena ianao, dia manompoa amim-panetren-tena izay mividy aminao amim-boninahitra sy amim-pahamendrehana.

This also means that we don’t have to compare ourselves to others, and Paul confirms this in verse 12. He uses very strong language here: By no means would he compare himself to other people. As he has already said in this letter, he sees all of us as jars of clay. And the treasure inside of us does not come from us, but from the Lord. If we boast in this treasure from the Lord, then we shouldn’t need to compare ourselves to others.

Midika koa izany fa tsy mila mampitaha ny tenantsika amin’ny hafa isika, ary manamafy izany i Paoly eo amin’ny andininy faha-12. Mampiasa fiteny mahery vaika izy eto: Tsy hampitaha ny tenany amin’ny olon-kafa mihitsy izy. Araka ny efa voalazany tamin’ity taratasy ity, dia hitany ho toy ny vilany tany isika rehetra. Ary ny rakitra ao anatintsika dia tsy avy amintsika, fa avy amin’ny Tompo. Raha mirehareha amin’izany rakitra avy amin’ny Tompo izany isika, dia tsy tokony hampitaha ny tenantsika amin’ny hafa.

BOASTING IN THE LORD

When I last preached to you, I told you that the main theme of 2 Corinthians is Strength Through Weakness. Paul teaches us today that strength is found in humility. Pride is our sinful reaction to our own human weakness, and there are people in the Corinthians church are trying to use pride to solve their weakness. But Paul wants us to humbly recognise our human weakness in order to be filled with God’s strength. How can we do this? How can we avoid pride and embrace humility? As I’ve said from the beginning, Paul’s solution is simple: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Rehefa nitory taminareo aho tamin’ny farany dia nilaza fa ny hevi-dehibe ao amin’ny 2 Korintiana dia ny Hery amin’ny fahalemena. Mampianatra antsika i Paoly ankehitriny fa ny fanetren-tena no [tan]jaka. Ny fieboeboana dia fihetsika feno ota ataontsika manoloana ny fahalementsika olombelona, ​​ary misy olona ao amin’ny fiangonana Korintiana miezaka mampiasa fireharehana handre[se]na ny fahalemeny. Tian’i Paoly hanaiky amim-panetren-tena ny fahalementsika olombelona anefa isika mba ho feno ny herin’Andriamanitra. Ahoana no ahafahantsika manao izany? Ahoana no ahafahantsika manalavitra ny avonavona sy manaiky ny fanetren-tena? Araka ny efa nolazaiko hatrany am-boalohany, dia tsotra ny vahaolana nomen’i Paoly: Aoka izay mirehareha, dia ny Tompo no ho reharehany.

To be humble is to remove ourselves as the object of our pride, and to place God as the object of our pride. Pride in ourselves is sinful, but boasting in the Lord is an acknowledgement of who he is and what he has done for us. Because the only one worthy of glory, the only one worthy of being lifted high above all is not us, but God himself.

Ny hoe manetry tena dia manala ny tenantsika ho reharehantsika, ary mametraka an’Andriamanitra ho reharehantsika. Ota ny fireharehana amin’ny tenantsika, fa ny fireharehana amin’ny Tompo kosa dia ny fanekena ny maha-izy azy sy izay nataony ho antsika. Satria ny hany mendrika ny voninahitra, sy mendrika hasandratra ho ambony dia Andriamanitra, fa tsy isika mihitsy.

But here is the truly amazing thing. God, the Creator of all things, the Name above every other Name, almighty in power and authority, with all things under his feet, the earth is his footstool. If anyone should have pride, surely it is God, and yet, he doesn’t. For God humbled himself to come down from the heights of heaven to live and walk on this earth as a man, Jesus Christ. Jesus, the God-man, lived a humble, poor life which was filled with suffering, culminating with his death on the cross. Would a proud man, a proud God, choose to die for the sins of his creation? But Jesus humbled himself to death, even death on a cross, so that we would have forgiveness of our sins, including our pride, and that we would have newness of life. Jesus said of himself: “I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Our God, in the centre of his heart, is gentle and humble. The God who has all the reason in the universe to be proud, shows us the greatest example of humility. An endless love for his creation that he would even sacrifice himself to save them.

Fa eto ny tena mahagaga. Andriamanitra no Mpahary ny zava-drehetra, Anarana ambonin’ny anarana rehetra, tsitoha amin’ny hery sy ny fahefana, ka ny zava-drehetra eo ambanin’ny tongony, ny tany no fitoeran-tongony. Raha misy olona manana fireharehana, dia azo antoka fa Andriamanitra izany, nefa tsy manao izany. Fa Andriamanitra dia nanetry tena ka nidina avy any amin’ny lanitra avo mba hiaina sy handeha amin’ity tany ity amin’ny maha-olombelona azy, dia Jesosy Kristy. Jesosy, ilay Andriamanitra tonga nofo, ​​dia niaina fiainana feno fanetren-tena sy mahantra izay feno fijaliana, ary niafara tamin’ny fahafatesany teo amin’ny hazo fijaliana. Moa ve ny olona miavonavona, Andriamanitra miavonavona, hifidy ny ho faty noho ny fahotan’ny zavaboariny? Fa Jesosy nanetry tena hatramin’ny fahafatesana, dia ny fahafatesana teo amin’ny hazo fijaliana, mba hahazoantsika famelan-keloka, anisan’izany ny fireharehana, ary hananantsika fiainam-baovao. Hoy i Jesosy momba ny tenany: “Malemy fanahy sady tsy miavona am-po Aho, dia hahita fitsaharana ho an’ny fanahinareo ianareo”. Ny Andriamanitsika, ao am-pony, dia malemy fanahy sy manetry tena. Ilay Andriamanitra manana ny antony rehetra hireharehana eo amin’izao rehetra izao, dia mampiseho amintsika ny ohatra lehibe indrindra amin’ny fanetren-tena. Fitiavana tsy manam-petra ny zavaboariny ka nahafoy ny ainy ho famonjena azy ireo.

When Jesus was asked “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?” his answer was the key to humility. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind” and “love your neighbour as yourself”. The difference between pride and humility is an order of loves. Pride reorders love so that you are on top, above God and other people. Paul’s opponents loved themselves, above God and certainly above other people. They disobeyed the two greatest commandments of God. But humility is seeing the rightful order of love, to boast in the Lord and raise our God to the highest heights and submit to his authority. And then to love others by raising them up to a higher status.

Rehefa nanontaniana i Jesosy hoe: “Mpampianatra ô, ny didy manao ahoana moa no lehibe ao amin’ny lalàna?” ny valinteniny no fanalahidin’ny fanetren-tena. “Tiava NY TOMPO Andriamanitrao amin’ny fonao manontolo sy ny fanahinao manontolo ary ny sainao manontolo” ary “tiava ny namanao tahaka ny tenanao”. Ny tsy fitovian'ny avonavona sy ny fanetren-tena dia miankina amin'ny antana-tohatrin’ny olona tiany. Ny avonavona dia mandahatra ny fitiavan’ny olona ny tenany ambony kokoa noho ny fitiavana an'Andriamanitra sy ny olon-kafa. Ny mpanohitra an’i Paoly dia nanao ireo zavatra ireo. Tsy nankatò ny didy roa lehibe indrindran’Andriamanitra izy ireo. Fa ny fanetren-tena kosa dia ny fahitana ny filaharan’ny fitiavana marina, dia ny hirehareha amin’ny Tompo sy hanandratra an’Andriamanitsika ho any amin’ny avo indrindra ary hanaiky ny fahefany. Ary avy eo dia mitia ny hafa amin'ny fampiakarana azy ireo ho ambony kokoa.

To summarise, do not be proud because pride is weakness. It is humility indeed that is true strength. You are loved by God and prized by him, that’s why he died for you. But he didn’t die for you so that you could take the credit. His loving sacrifice is a model for us to show the same humility. We need to realise that if we boast, we must make sure that we boast in the Lord. The Lord is great, and we are small. And we boast in the Lord in two ways. First, we order our love so that God is our first priority. We acknowledge and praise him for what he has done for us. We recognise that without his saving grace, we were in great distress and dead in our sins. We boast in him. And secondly we raise up other people higher than ourselves. Do not compete with them, encourage them. Love them with a sacrificial love. And if God has given you an area of influence or authority over people, be thankful in what he has given you, and serve him and others humbly.

Raha fintinina dia aza mirehareha fa fahalemena ny avonavona. Ny fanetren-tena tokoa no hery. Tian’Andriamanitra ianao ary sarobidy aminy, izany no antony nahafatesany ho anao. Saingy tsy maty ho anao izy mba hahazoanao ny sitraka. Ny sorona feno fitiavana nomeny dia modely ho antsika mba hanehoantsika fanetren-tena mitovy amin’izany. Tokony ho fantatsika fa raha mirehareha isika, dia tsy maintsy ataontsika antoka fa ny Tompo no ho reharehantsika. Lehibe ny Tompo fa kely isika. Ary fomba roa no ireharehantsika ao amin’ny Tompo. Voalohany, mandahatra ny fitiavantsika isika mba ho laharam-pahamehana ho antsika Andriamanitra. Manaiky sy midera azy isika noho izay nataony ho antsika. Fantatsika fa raha tsy nisy ny fahasoavany, dia tao anatin’ny fahoriana lehibe isika ary maty tamin’ny fahotantsika. Izy no reharehantsika. Ary faharoa, manandratra ny olon-kafa ho ambony noho isika. Aza mifaninana aminy, amporisiho izy ireo. Tiava azy ireo amin’ny fahafoizana ny zavatra rehetra. Ary raha nomen’Andriamanitra fahefana eo amin’ny olona ianao, dia misaora izay nomeny anao, ary manompoa azy sy ny hafa amim-panetren-tena.