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•12因为我们不敢将自己和某些自我推荐的人并列相比；他们用自己度量自己，用自己比较自己，是不明智的。13我们不愿意过分夸口，但是我们只在　神划定的界限内夸口。这界限甚至扩展到你们那里。14我们扩展到你们那里时并没有越过了自己的界限，其实我们是首先到你们那里传基督福音的。15我们不靠别人所劳碌的过分夸口；我们只希望你们信心增长的时候，所划定给我们的范围也能够因着你们更加扩展，16使福音得以传到你们以外的地方，而不在别人的范围之内，以别人所成就的事夸口。17但“要夸耀的，该夸耀主”。18因为蒙悦纳的，不是自我称许的，而是主所称许的。

很难衡量甚至是宣称一个教会是否“成功”。首先，你无法衡量肉眼看不见的东西。一个坐满了人的教会可能并不是一个充满了信徒的教会。因为只有上帝才能看透人的内心。其次，你认为的自己的成功，可能只是收获别人种下的成果。最后，唯一应该得到荣耀的只有上帝自己，因为只有上帝自己能让他的国度发展壮大。

很明显哥林多有些人在自夸，说自己成功了。他们用自己比较自己（用自己设立的标准衡量自己），这是非常愚蠢的。你把标准设的很低，然后夸口自己是成功的。那些为自己的工作感到骄傲的人总会去批评别人，保罗似乎也成为他们批评的对象。这种愚蠢的行为不属于上帝的教会，因为只有上帝才应该得到荣耀。

今天保罗的这些话也呼召我悔改。我不得不承认，有时候我希望我能在我的事工上更“成功”。但这种想法只来自人类的骄傲。人的骄傲促使自己寻求那只应该归于神的荣耀。人的骄傲低估了福音在人心里所做的美好的工，尽管这工作是人眼看不见的。“但凡夸口的，当指着主夸口。”

祷告：主耶稣，我祷告我所做的所有事工都能归荣耀给你，特别是在我心里归荣耀给你。我如此祈求是奉你的名。阿们。

2 Corinthians 10:  12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (NIV)

It is hard to measure or even claim “success” in the Church. For one, you cannot measure what you cannot see. A full church may not be a church filled with believers. Only God can see what is in the heart. Second, what you think may be success on your part may only be a matter of harvesting what others have planted. Finally, the only one who should get the glory is God alone. For God alone can grow his kingdom.

        Evidently, some in Corinth were boasting and claiming success. They were comparing themselves with themselves, which is always foolish.  You set the bar low enough to achieve it, and then boast of your success! People who pride themselves in their work will always criticize others, and Paul seemed to be the target of their criticism. Such foolishness doesn’t belong in God’s Church, because it is God alone who should get the glory.

Paul’s words call me to repentance this morning. I have to admit that sometimes I wish I could have been more “successful” in my ministry. But that thinking only comes from human pride.  It looks for glory in those things that only God should be glorified for. It overlooks the good work that gospel has done in the hearts of people, even though I cannot see it. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”   

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, in all that I do I pray that you will be glorified, especially in my own heart.  I ask this in your name. Amen.