Something to Brag About

2 Corinthians 10:7–18 CSB

7 Look at what is obvious. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, let him remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we. 8 For if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame. 9 I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. 10 For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Let such a person consider this: What we are in our letters, when we are absent, we will also be in our actions when we are present. 12 For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We are not boasting beyond measure about other people’s labors. On the contrary, we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel to the regions beyond you without boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry. 17 So let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.

Paul is continuing to deal with his opponent who are claiming the “Christianity” is better than his. Their assertion it that Paul is timid while face to face but bold only when away.

Be careful making judgments based on surface things.

We cannot know the depth of someones commitment to God - sure we can see evidence but that is not the entire picture.

We cannot make assumptions based on a single argument either.

We need to evaluate each situation on ourselves.

We, as believers, all belong to the same Jesus.

There are no super Christians.

Each one of our lives is built on the same foundation of Jesus.

However, some have been given a different level of authority in Christ. But why?

Authority has been given for the purpose of building up.

God is a God or order and life without leadership would be chaos.

This is why God has called some and given them authority to lead, encourage, correct and train.

It is also why we need to listen to those God has placed in authority over us - it is for our benefit.

If we say it then we need to live it.

Paul says that what he writes in his letters, he will also do in person.

We often say a lot of thing which is fine but our actions need to match out words or we are truly being hypocrites.

We only have something to brag about because of what Jesus has done and is doing.

Any wisdom, any strength, any wealth, and success is through the gift of Jesus Christ.

It is because God wills and ordains it that we have anything

So if we are to brag, we are brag on Jesus