For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith
– Romans 12:3
While on this detour in 2 Corinthians 10, it would be worth our while to look at one more verse in this passage.
“But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 10:17
Paul is still teaching these spiritually immature Born-Again Believers in the church at Corinth the simple truth that all glory belongs completely to the Lord. It is complete foolishness for laborer in the ministry to glory and boast of his accomplishments. We all have our own jobs to fulfill in the Body of Christ. Some might have jobs that will be more noticeable to others. Some will have more discreet, inconspicuous jobs in the Body of Christ. Regardless, we will be judged on how well we fulfilled OUR role, not on how grand and widespread our ministry was. Here Paul says “but he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
This is the second time Paul has used these words in writing to the Corinthians. The first time was in 1 Corinthians 1:31 where he touches on the same exact subject – humility in the ministry and true nature of God’s plan. In these two instances Paul is actually quoting a verse from Jeremiah 9.
“Thus saith the LORD,
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Neither let the mighty man glory in his might,
Let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this,
That he understandeth and knoweth me,
That I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:
For in these things I delight, saith the LORD.“
– Jeremiah 9:23-24
Jeremiah 9 begins by declaring the judgments that will befall Jerusalem because of their sin. The religious people thought they were doing God a favor. The wise people thought highly of themselves because of their wisdom. The rich people boasted of their accomplishments. But they all perished according the judgment in Jeremiah 9.
The Lord then tells the wise men, mighty men, and rich men that there’s nothing to glory of themselves. But there’s one thing worth glorying in. That he understands and knows the Lord. We should not take this to mean we should have pride in the fact that we are special in knowing the Lord. Paul did not take it this way. He takes this verse to mean, “glory in the Lord!” But notice what it is we are to understand and know about the Lord – it is that He is “the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth.”
If you are trying to do your part in the Body of Christ, know this. It is of the lovingkindness of the Lord that you even have a role in the Body of Christ. We will be judged based on how we fulfill our role in the Body of Christ (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10). And it only by the righteousness of God that we are made clean in the sight of God. All glory goes to HIM. I’ve heard many people boast about how many doors they’ve knocked on and how many people they’ve witnessed to. I’ve heard people boast about knocking on doors to share the Gospel and laugh when they are rejected. What is there to laugh about?! It’s not funny when someone rejects the Gospel! We have too many church-goers boasting in their own activities when there is absolutely nothing in ourselves to glory in.
Where are you at a God’s measure of faith? This is the ruler which God will be holding your life up to. How much are you aligned with the will of God? Remember God will not be judging us based on the “Others” ruler, comparing our works to the works of others. He will not be judging us based on the “Selfish” ruler, comparing ourselves with ourselves. God has a plan for each and every one of us. That is what we ought to measure up to.
“But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10