Boast

This week, we are making our way through a letter Paul wrote to Jesus followers in Corinth. Today, Paul encourages us to boast ... really.


1 Corinthians 1
25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”


Boast. Remember, this section of the letter is dealing with division among the Jesus followers in Corinth. They had shifted their focus from the message (of Jesus making us right with God) to a debate about who was the best messenger (check out 1 Corinthians 1:10-17). Now, take a minute and reread today’s passage. Go ahead. It’s only six verses. I’ll wait. Did you follow the action (verbs)? God called. God chose. God used. God united. God made. Jesus made. Jesus freed. Who is doing the “heavy lifting” in this relationship? That is why Paul thought it was so absurd for them to be boasting about who had told them the message instead of who made the message possible. Maybe we should consider being a little more boastful … about God. It would certainly help us maintain a more accurate focus.