Don’t Boast
Tue, 5 May 2020
‘We have done what was our duty.’ Luke 17:10 NKJV
If you feel a constant urge to remind your friends of all the cool things you do for them, read what Jesus said: ‘When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say… “We have done what was our duty to do.”’
We all deserve recognition for the good we do. We thrive on appreciation. But lots of times we don’t get it.
So we’re left with three choices:
(1) We can dump self-pity over ourselves and toss around complaints about how the world doesn’t treat us right or give us a fair deal.
(2) We can heap up resentments, walk around with a chip on each shoulder, and end up wondering why people don’t want to be around us.
(3) We can take the same attitude as Jesus and say, ‘I’m only doing what God expects of me. And knowing He is pleased with me is enough.’
If you try to run on the fuel of other people’s encouragement and praise, then you’ll have no joy when it doesn’t come. And that’s bad because ‘the joy of the Lord [the joy that comes from knowing you walk under the smile of His approval] is your strength.’ (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV)
Living this way will make you a self-starter and a successful finisher. And when that happens, you’ll be popular at home, at school or on the job, and end up with more friends than you know what to do with. Plus your real reward, the one that matters most, is guaranteed when you stand before the Master one day and hear the words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ (Matthew 25:23 KJV)
SoulFood: Num 8–10, Mark 6:30–44, Ps 37:16–24, Pro 11:4
https://internetbiblecollege.info/sound-doctrine-good-teaching/who-is-vision/