May 2 | Galatians 6:14

David Thompson
May 1
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Boasting

by Dave Thompson

Why do we boast? What do we boast about? Is it good or bad? Let's take a few minutes to look at this topic. I was watching The Price is Right the other day. People were winning many things, but there was one lady that had a chance of winning a car. Not just any car, but a red SUV. Before even winning, she told the host, Drew Carey, that this would make her life easier. When she won, she was "over the moon" with joy. She went to the SUV and hugged its hood. I would guess that over the next few months, she would be bragging to everyone who would listen about how she won a car and that it is her pride and joy.

Perhaps for you, it would be a beautiful house you just bought. Or, a new handsome boyfriend or girlfriend, winning the lottery, being hired for a new job with a long title and a window office space. I could go on, but I bet you get the point. The Life Application Bible comments on this verse as follows:

"The world is full of enticements. Daily we are tempted with subtle cultural pressures and overt propaganda. The only way to escape these destructive influences is to ask God to help crucify our interest in them, just as Paul did. How much do the interests of this world matter to you?"

It would be nice to be wealthy enough to be a member of the most exclusive country club in town, where we could keep those unworthy out!! These might be hard words to absorb and even harder to get to the place where we ask Christ to crucify all of those things on the cross. Being the best at your job is a part of God's plan, as is your financial situation. We need to not take everything we have so seriously that they might become our gods. Instead we need to ask Christ for forgiveness and understand that all thing that we have or have done are from Him. It is not us.

Ask yourself, Where you would be without Christ? Would I have such and so talents, winnings, money and health. God wants to have a relationship with each of us and having so many things in our lives that draw us away can make a solid relationship hard. God doesn't want us to get rid of anything unless it is the thing that is hurting your walk with Him, with fellow employees or with your family. Ask Christ to send the Holy Spirit into our lives to help us make the right decisions.

Prayer

Lord, we each have so much that we could and in some cases should boast about (i.e. a great spouse). Help us through your Holy Spirit to search ourselves and find the right balance between those things discussed in your Word and this devotional. We long for a better, more full relationship with You.

Find additional "Dying to Live" study materials designed for small groups or individual use here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE THOMPSON

I am the administrator of the Daily Worship Blog. My wife, Carla, and I have been attending UALC for seven years at the 9 o'clock service at Mill Run. We have two children, Catherine and Aaron. I have been a Christian for 53 years and am thankful that my Savior has given me two spiritual gifts that have carried me both spiritually and vocationally all my life: they are teaching and administration. I look forward to spending many years here at UALC to serve my Lord and Savior.