1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (The Message)
21-23 I don’t want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift—Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all of it is yours, and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God.
Paul now summarizes this chapter by giving us a severe warning about bragging. Whether we are the fastest worker with the best crop this season or whether we are the flashiest brick in a wall, we need to guard ourselves against bragging, boasting or being excessively proud about our role because it leads to pecking order thinking, jealousy and divisions in the body of Christ. Bragging can hurt others and is not constructive.
I cannot help but ponder the role to which bragging contributes to some of the tensions in our political arena and ponder the Olympics where the difference between gold and silver might be a thousandth of a second. To compete and still be respectful is a challenge in any arena.
Paul tells us to always remember that it is a privilege to be in union with God who gifts us with our talents and accomplishments. Let’s take a moment and list what accomplishments God has gifted us and our family with today. Lord guard our mouths and hearts from harmful boasting. Blessings.Br
On the Way to Wonder 