<1 Co 4> 6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

1. The most wicked but absurd sin of pride.

• Pride makes one defiant against God.
• 3 common things men boast about:
  • <Jer 9:23> This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches

2. Grace eliminates boasting.

• 3 important questions:
  • 1) Who makes you different from anyone else?
  • 2) What do you have that you did not receive? 
  • 3) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

1) Who makes you different from anyone else?

• Implied answer: “You are no different from anyone else!”

2) What do you have that you did not receive?

• Implied answer: “Nothing!”
• Good things in life: God’s grace.
• Born again and saved: God’s grace.
  • All men are sinners, and if not for God’s grace, we will all perish.
  • <Lk 13> 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
• Life transformation: God’s grace.
• Kept from backsliding: God’s grace.
• If the grace of God departs from us, what would become of us? [put this one qn on one standalone slide]
• “What do you have that you did not receive?” [put this one qn on another standalone slide]

3) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

• Be grateful to God, and don’t despise others.

• “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” <Mt 19:30>
• Glory goes to God, not us.
  • <1 Co 1:8> He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless son the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• God’s grace from beginning to end.
  • <Php 1:6> being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
• Serve God with gratitude and diligence.
  • “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” <Lk 12:48>
• Pray for God’s saving grace to come upon others too.
  • <Ecc 11:6> Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.
    
    

Reflection

1. How sensitive are you to your sin of pride? Can you easily catch pride lurking in secret corners of your thoughts/hearts?
2. What do you usually boast about, be it subtly or obviously? How can you prevent yourself from boasting in things you have received as if they were your personal achievements?
3. How should you respond after confirming that everything you have and enjoyed are from the grace of God?