DRAWING NEAR
August 16
Exalting Others
"Love does not brag" (1 Cor. 13:4).
Love exalts others; pride exalts self.
Most of us shy away from people who have an inflated view of
themselves or place themselves at the center of every conversation.
Yet perhaps you too struggle with the temptation to spend most of
your conversations talking about yourself. Even if you would never
openly brag about yourself, might you at times secretly resent others
for not acknowledging your accomplishments? That's the subtlety of
pride.
Boasting always violates love because it seeks to exalt itself at the
expense of others--to make itself look good while making others look
inferior. It incites jealousy and other sins. Sadly, boasting exists
even in the church. That's why Paul exhorted us not to think more
highly of ourselves than we ought to think, "but to think so as to
have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith"
(Rom. 12:3). The context of that statement is spiritual gifts, which
can lead to pride if not governed by humility and love.
The Corinthians were spiritual show-offs--each vying for attention
and prominence. Consequently their worship services were chaotic.
First Corinthians 14:26 says, "When you assemble, each one has a
psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an
interpretation." Apparently they all were expressing their spiritual
gifts at the same time with no regard for anyone else. That's why
Paul concluded, "Let all things be done for edification."
Their lack of love was obvious because people who truly love others
don't exalt themselves. They regard others as more important than
themselves, just as Christ did when He humbled Himself and died for
our sins (Phil. 2:3-8).
Boasting about our spiritual gifts is absurd because we did nothing
to earn them. They don't reflect our capabilities; they reflect God's
grace. That's why Paul asked the Corinthians, "What do you have that
you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as
if you had not received it?" (1 Cor. 4:7). That applies to physical
capabilities as well as spiritual enablements. Everything you have is
a gift from God. Therefore, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord"
(1 Cor. 1:31).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Each day acknowledge your total dependence on God's grace.
Praise Him for the gifts He has entrusted to you.
For Further Study:
Note what God has to say about haughtiness in Proverbs 6:16-17;
16:18; 18:12; 21:3-4; and 21:24.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Philippians 2:3-8
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also
for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be
equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Proverbs 6:16-19
16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to
Him:
17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running
to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among
brethren.
Proverbs 16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a
fall.
Proverbs 18:12
12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before
honor is humility.
Proverbs 21:3-4
3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD
than sacrifice.
4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are
sin.
Proverbs 21:24
24 A proud and haughty man; "Scoffer" is his name; He acts with
arrogant pride.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
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and
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You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus Is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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