Measuring Ourselves
II Cor. 10:12 - For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
It is not necessary for us to measure ourselves against others to find out how we stack up against them. We are to measure ourselves according to the rule of Christ. This is the only rule which matters.
Galatians 2:6 - Paul didn’t care who had grouped together to form whatever alliance. He was intent on serving God.
II Cor. 3:1 - Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Through verse 6 at least. Paul doesn’t need anybody to tell him about the Corinthians. Paul doesn’t need the Corinthians to tell him about themselves. Verse 5 - Paul’s sufficiency is from God, not from man.
II Cor. 5:12 - For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. Verse 11-15 - Paul persuaded people because of the terror of the Lord, not because he was trying to gain any prestige from anybody. Paul did what he did because of the Lord, nothing else.
Proverbs 25:27 - It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Proverbs 27:2 - Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. We jokingly say, “He that tooteth not his own horn, his horn shall not be tooted.” We should never praise ourselves, for God knows all about us.
Proverbs 26:12 - Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. Because this man isn’t able to judge himself correctly.
Luke 18:11 - The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. Here is a man who missed the whole point about being saved because he judged his righteousness against the righteousness of others.
See verse 15 for an explanation of the measure that is outside ourselves.
Proverbs 25:6,7 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
Luke 14:7-11 - The New Testament story as told by Christ.
Verse 13 -
Proverbs 25:14 - Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. 1
The thing that is bothering me is that we judge our faithfulness to God based on what we see in others. This is not good. I read this week that in the average Sunday morning church attendance in the Southern Baptist Convention is 32% of members. Sunday evenings there is 20% of that 32% present. To put this in perspective: say a church has 100 members. Sunday morning they will have 32 present, then Sunday evening they will have 6 members present (20% of 32). A church would have to have 1,000 members to have 320 members present Sunday morning and 60 present Sunday evening.
Hollywood judges their own by having the Emmy’s or whatever else they are called. Music awards go for the same purpose.
The consequences of unfaithfulness of God is far reaching.
Lot saw his wife turned into a pillar of salt, lost all his children and in-laws except two daughters, but he committed incest with them.
Isaiah 59:1,2 - God is well able to bless, save, and hear our prayers, but he will not because our sins and iniquities have separated us from Him.
Women should keep their houses the way God wants them to, not according to some “invisible” rule of other women - whoever they may be.
Men should work according to how God wants them to work, not according to some rule of other workers or bosses.
Churches should work and build according to how God wants them to work and build, not judging themselves according to other churches.
There is coming a day of judgment, when every soul shall stand before God and give account for every thing they have said and done. God will be judge at that judgment. We all need to be ready.
Rom. 14:4, 10-13 - Don’t judge anybody, we will all stand before God and be judged. Let us stop judging each other. We ought to understand that we will all be judged by God.