1 Corinthians 4:6-13: a reflection

6Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. 7For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. 10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor. 11Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place. 12We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 13Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

Confronting the pride and boasting of the Corinthians, Paul asks a question that cuts to the root of all human pride: What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not receive it? The Corinthians were proud of their gifts, their wisdom, their status, boasting as though these were their own achievements. Paul's question exposes the folly: everything they had, every gift, ability, and advantage, they had received; none of it was self-generated. And if it was all received, boasting made no sense.

Notice the question and its force: What do you have that you did not receive? Every ability we have, every gift, every advantage, our intelligence, our talents, our opportunities, even our very existence, we have received; we did not generate any of it ourselves. And if everything we have is received, a gift, then boasting in it, as though it were our own achievement, is foolish. The question dismantles pride at its root: there is nothing to boast in, because there is nothing we did not receive.

That question is worth asking ourselves whenever pride rises. When we are tempted to boast, in our hearts or our words, of our abilities, achievements, or advantages, to feel superior, to take credit, Paul's question stops us: What do you have that you did not receive? Whatever we are proud of, we received; it is a gift, not a self-made achievement. Let that question humble you. Every good thing you have is received from God, a gift; there is nothing to boast in as though it were your own. Instead of pride, let all you have received lead you to gratitude and humility. What do you have that you did not receive? Nothing; so boast not, but give thanks.

Lord, Paul asked the proud Corinthians, what do you have that you did not receive? and if you received it, why boast as though you did not? Let that question humble me. Everything I have, every ability, gift, and advantage, my intelligence, my talents, my opportunities, my very existence, I have received from you; I did not generate any of it myself. And if everything I have is a gift, then boasting in it as my own achievement is foolish. When pride rises in me, when I am tempted to boast or feel superior or take credit, stop me with that question: what do I have that I did not receive? Whatever I am proud of, I received it. Let that lead me not to pride, but to gratitude and humility. Everything good I have is your gift; help me give thanks rather than boast, and receive all I have with a humble, grateful heart.