2 Corinthians 10:12-18
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you. 14 For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else’s sphere of action. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.
The Song “Last Kiss” was covered by Pearl Jam many years after J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers first recorded it in 1964. The song is about a boy who loses his girlfriend in a car accident! It is a great song, but BAD theology.
Here is the 1964 classic:
Oh where oh where can my baby be,
The Lord took her away from me,
she’s gone to heaven so I got to be good,
so I can see my baby when I leave this world.
That is not how God operates. God is the God of life.
She’s gone to heaven so I got to be good. Our Lutheran theology is founded on the good news that it is ONLY by God’s grace that we are saved. It isn’t about being good or bad. It is about God.
And one more thing – she’s not your baby. She belongs to God.
In today’s lesson, St. Paul warns against boasting about how good we might be. The good news is God is the one who defines who we are. We are children of God. We belong to God.
As the lights in the movie theater dimmed, a young man loaded down with popcorn, cokes, and candy paced up and down the aisle, scanning the darkened rows. It was obvious he was looking for the person or persons with whom he had come. After three or four unsuccessful trips, he finally stopped and asked loudly, “Does anybody here recognize me?”
Photo by Amer Mughawish on Unsplash
Belonging is important because it’s the way God created us. We are meant to be in community with one another. God created Adam and Eve together so they wouldn’t be alone; so they would have support, nurture, and care. Even Jesus needed that support. The first thing he did when he began his ministry was to gather a small circle of friends. A group who would eventually become the leaders of the early Church. Yes, he needed to train them but, Jesus also needed their support and their friendship. He even sought their counsel from time to time. At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked them who the crowds said he was. To show how important that relationship was to Jesus, at the Last Supper, he told them all, “I no longer call you servants … now I call you friends.” (John 15:15).
Jew, Greek, Slave, Free, Conservative, Liberal, Democrat, Republican, Buckeye, Wolverine, Sinner, Saint.
What defines us, what saves us, what ultimately matters to us is what GOD has done, and continues to do.
That is something of which we can boast!
Let us pray:
Dear God, instead of focusing on how good we are, may we always remember how GREAT YOU are! We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.