From “Share The Word - 1-25-2014

2 Corinthians 1:17-18, “but he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”

One of my pet peeves is a person who thinks they are better than everyone else. You know, a man or woman who looks down their nose and lifts their head up so as to appear to not see you. They only want to spend time with those they think are of “their level.” This is not according to God’s word. We are not to glory on past accomplishments, on our own merits, or on our own highly thought of intellect. The Apostle Paul says we are to “glory in the Lord.” Heard a story years ago of an old preacher who, when he had been blessed greatly to deliver a powerful sermon, was told, “Preacher, you outdid yourself. That was a great sermon you preached.” The old servant of God looked at the younger man and replied, “I know, the devil just told me the same thing.” Verse 18 tells it all. When the minister delivers a blessed sermon, it shows that the Lord has already commended. God’s approval is the only approval which man should seek. All preachers need to be encouraged to know their efforts are being received, but only to the glory of God. When those times come for me, I pray that I will be able to answer someone by saying simply, “Thank you, God be praised.” We must all remember what Paul says in I Corinthians 3:7, “...neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” May we pray the Lord will increase His devoted ministering servants to preach the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.