Our Competence Comes from Whom?

Food for Life:
2 Corinthians 3:1-6

"...but our competence comes from God" (vs 5b).

Paul knew from where his giftedness, ability, strength, accomplishments - competence came. He knew that whatever good came from him and through him was given him from God. I really like Paul's reminder of this reality. Have you ever accomplished something and thought, 'wow, alright, look what I did!" Period?

It is such a temptation to commend ourselves in the achievements we experience in this life. Even if, until this point in time, you have always recognized, acknowledged, and known that your achievements are God-given and Holy Spirit empowered...be careful. None of us is above any temptation. And especially when it comes to (seeking) gaining our significance from the giftedness, accomplishments, and successes of this life. When we do so, we quickly find that it is true..."Pride comes before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

The issue of taking credit, without also acknowledging and thanking God for what He has done and what He has given us first, ("Thank you, I thank the Lord for enabling me!) is something that can come so 'naturally', that we don't realize it! Soon, we can start to actually think that we are 'all that'....only to discover, then, at some point, "no...I guess I'm not all that." Usually the discovery comes from a painful, humbling experience.

Thank God. Thank the Lord that He loves us enough to help us not have a false sense of ourselves. The Apostle Paul said that God gave him a 'messenger from Satan' in order to buffet him...so as to not think more highly of himself than he ought (Romans 12:3; 2 Corinthians 12:9). The root of our false pride or self-importance comes from Satan himself. He is the one who started it. He was the most spectacular angel - messenger and minister on God's behalf - and he decided he wanted to be like God or even above God! God said - well not sure God said anything exactly, but just acted by booting him from His presence in Glory - him and 1/3 of all the angels because they had the same thoughts as Satan...

So, we get this struggle within, through inheritance (Adam and Eve), and can carry it on quite nicely on our own. The recourse is not to think of ourselves as 'dirty dogs' or worthless...after all Christ died for us! The Scripture tells us to think of ourselves as we ought - not too lowly or highly, but in measure. Really, as those who need... God. We need God's favor and deposit and on-going activity in our lives. And we need one another. We need the body of Christ (recall 1 Corinthians 12 and 13).

God reminds us through Paul that our competence from Him. Elsewhere we are reminded that we 'have been given EVERYTHING pertaining to life and Godliness through His divine power according to our knowledge of Him that called us to His glory and goodness, (2 Peter 1:3). We are also told that 'we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us' (Philippians 4:13). Praise the Lord for giving us all things and empowering us through His Spirit!

"Lord, please forgive me (us) when I think my competence comes from myself and not You. Lord, please forgive me (us) when I either think more of myself or less of myself than seeing my identity and significance as Your child/daughter (son)/beloved. Lord, please help me (us) to recognize all You have given me, to be thankful to You, and give You the glory! Thank You Lord!"