What do you have that you did not receive?

This week's verses are 1 Corinthians 4:6-7:

I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?

The book of Corinthians is fun because it deals with a lot of the very human issues we have as Christians, especially as new Christians, or when we're young and haven't learned how the world works yet. Here Paul has been talking about not being quick to condemn things. And here he gives us a good reason why.

I remember my early days. We were all young Christians, and we were convinced that we were better than at least 90% of the other Christians out there. Maybe even 100%. We'd talk about how this denomination has this error, and that denomination has that one, and how fake most Christians were compared to us.

And how could we not think that? We were so overwhelmed by the favor God had shown us, and at the same time we were cut off from any meaningful relationships with more mature believers who might have put us in our place. It was kind of like the disciples all arguing amongst each other over who was the greatest, when in reality they were all losers in one way or another. Jesus was the greatest. The rest of us are extras.

So here Paul is talking to a church very much like that, and he's saying basically "Look, I make a point to approach things with an eye for humility, so that we don't fall into that trap. You should pay attention and do the same." Elsewhere he recommends against young people taking up leadership roles in the church, for similar reasons. If you don't have a sense of your own limitations, not only can you fall into sin, but you can also be unnecessarily harsh with others. Pride kills grace.

But when you're new, you only see the favor of God. And so you wonder what you could have done to deserve that favor. Maybe it's because you pray so much. Or read the Bible so much. Or maybe there's things wrong with other people that aren't wrong with you. The modern mind hates unanswered questions.

So here the Corinthians were, arguing over who is the greatest. Paul ends it by reminding them that the only thing worth bragging about is something they were given for free: Grace. There is nothing we have that doesn't ultimately come from God.

And so that should level the playing field. Even if you meticulously studied to be the best at what you do, your abilities all came from God. Even if you spent 100% of your time on righteous things, you're still not going to rate higher than a tax collector or a prostitute. It's silly to compare. Worse, it's dangerous.

When we puff ourselves up, we put ourselves in the place of God. We become the source of our own righteousness. We become the instrument of judgment and condemnation. And we become blind to our own flaws. And even if those flaws don't make us less valuable, they still make us less effective and cause pain to others. Do you want to be a source of pain and a waste of time? I don't.

So don't be so quick to condemn people who aren't winning like you think you are winning. Chances are you're not doing that great of a job either. And if it isn't enough to hold back God's love for you, should it be enough for you to hold back your love for others? Neither of you has anything good that didn't ultimately come from God.