"Staying Within Our Boundaries"2 Corinthians 10:14-15a
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. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.
Thoughts for Today:Paul is saying, "We don't want to go too far past the boundaries God has placed around us." In fact, all believers should pay careful attention to these same types of limits which God has placed around us as well.
This causes some people to pause and ask, "Are we still to step out boldly in faith? Should we allow ourselves to be stretched beyond what we know our capacity to be?" Of course we should. Yet, Paul says regarding his own ministry, "We don't stretch ourselves beyond the limits God has placed on us." What does he mean, and how do we reconcile these two seemingly opposing thoughts? As believers, we demonstrate great wisdom when we understand what God has given us to do, give ourselves to it wholeheartedly, and do so without making the mistake of stepping into the areas we don't belong.
Paul adds one other word of caution: Don't take credit for the work others have done. In our passage today, it is a warning to those in Corinth who were in opposition to his ministry -- they should not boast, nor take undue credit for the work he had already accomplished. This continues to be great advice for anyone involved in ministry today: Stay within our God-given limits and don't take credit for the work of others.
Questions to Ponder:Have you been stepping out boldly in ministry? What vision and direction has God given you? Have you gone past the limits God initially gave you? Are you continuing to seek His will? Will you do so now?
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. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.
Thoughts for Today:Paul is saying, "We don't want to go too far past the boundaries God has placed around us." In fact, all believers should pay careful attention to these same types of limits which God has placed around us as well.
This causes some people to pause and ask, "Are we still to step out boldly in faith? Should we allow ourselves to be stretched beyond what we know our capacity to be?" Of course we should. Yet, Paul says regarding his own ministry, "We don't stretch ourselves beyond the limits God has placed on us." What does he mean, and how do we reconcile these two seemingly opposing thoughts? As believers, we demonstrate great wisdom when we understand what God has given us to do, give ourselves to it wholeheartedly, and do so without making the mistake of stepping into the areas we don't belong.
Paul adds one other word of caution: Don't take credit for the work others have done. In our passage today, it is a warning to those in Corinth who were in opposition to his ministry -- they should not boast, nor take undue credit for the work he had already accomplished. This continues to be great advice for anyone involved in ministry today: Stay within our God-given limits and don't take credit for the work of others.
Questions to Ponder:Have you been stepping out boldly in ministry? What vision and direction has God given you? Have you gone past the limits God initially gave you? Are you continuing to seek His will? Will you do so now?
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