Be a Humble Boaster!

4th Sunday after Epiphany, 1/29/17
1 Corinthians 1:26-31


Be a Humble Boaster!
I. Boast about why God chose you.
II. Boast about what God gave you.


Have you ever noticed that the Bible contains paradoxes—teachings that appear to be polar opposites? For instance, God tells you in his word that you are both a sinner and a saint—a holy person—at the same time. Yes, I sin daily more times than I can count, but by faith in Jesus my sins are washed away. The Holy Spirit has sanctified me just as he has sanctified you.

Here’s another paradox. In Psalm 5 God states he hates all who do wrong. But in John 3 he states that he loves the whole world full of sinners. Those are polar opposites but both are true and they find their resolution in the cross of Jesus.

In this morning’s gospel from Matthew 5 Jesus encourages his followers to have and display a humble heart. He explains the blessings that come to those who humbly let go of themselves and their agendas. Being humble isn’t simply an attractive quality, it’s a Christian mindset and way of life.

But then we hear the words of our reading from 1 Corinthians and that reading ends with the encouragement for us to boast. So which one should we be? Humble or boastful? Jesus encourages us to do both. It’s another biblical paradox. Be a humble boaster. That’s possible and God-pleasing when our boasting is in the Lord.

Part I.

We make countless choices every day. We choose what messages we’re going to pay attention to and which ones we will ignore. We choose what foods we’re going to eat and what beverages we’re going to drink. We choose which clothes to buy and which vehicle to drive. We make choices about the work we’re going to do and how we’ll spend our leisure time. My question for you is how do you make those choices? What criteria do you use? Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? You choose things that please you. You choose things that will work for you. You choose things that will help you. In other words, when making your choices, you aim high, not low. You go for the best.

Have you ever wondered what criteria God uses when he makes a choice? The apostle Paul delves into that subject in these words before us this morning. Paul narrows the focus of God’s choices to his saving truths and the people who believe them.

He begins by asking the Corinthians to ponder something. “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.” Paul had made a quick assessment of the people who comprised the Corinthian congregation. His analysis revealed that the Christians in Corinth were fairly average people. They were run-of-the-mill citizens. They worked average jobs and led average lives. Certainly there were a few notable people among them. In another letter Paul reveals that one of the Christians in Corinth was the director of public works. It’s likely there were a few other notable people in the congregation, but the rest of them would blend in with any crowd of people.

So what’s Paul’s point? Is he trying to put a dent in their self-esteem? Of course not. He’s reminding them of why and how God makes his choices when it comes to his people. The Bible states clearly that Christians don’t choose God; God chooses them. Listen again to Paul describe that choice. “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

Let’s spend a couple minutes examining why God makes the choices in people that he does. Paul reminds us that God chose the foolish things of the world. Just what is he referring to? A few verses before this, Paul reminds us that the message of the cross is foolishness. By the world’s standard of wisdom, the cross of Christ is utter nonsense. The cross states that God gives eternal life free of charge to people who deserve hell. That’s ridiculous to our world. But it’s actually God’s foolishness which saves us.

Next, Paul states that God chose the weak things. Are you wondering what he’s referring to? Have you ever heard it stated that Christianity is for the weak? It’s nothing but a crutch to get us through life? That’s the way the world looks at us. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is God’s truth.

In fact, God chose the lowly and the despised. I’ve got no royal blood in me. How about you? I think I’m correct when I state about every one of us that we’re the most common among the common. But that’s whom God chooses.

He even chooses the things that the world has concluded are nothing at all. To the world your faith in Jesus as your Savior is a pathetic figment of your imagination. It means nothing at all. It really makes no positive difference in your life. In fact, the world thinks your faith is actually harming you and limiting you. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that God uses faith in Jesus to save you eternally.

So, why would God make these kinds of choices? Paul states the reason. “To nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” No Christian can ever rightly make the claim that God chose him or her to be one of his people because of who they are or what they had done or could do. The reason God chose you and me to be his people is solely because of who he is. Let me repeat that. It’s solely because of who he is.

So, be a humble boaster! Boast about why God chose you.

God chose me and God chose you solely because of who he is. Here’s another paradox. That truth does two things—it knocks me down and it lifts me up. We have a sinful propensity to think a little more of ourselves than we should. And that even happens in our spiritual lives. The moment we look down on someone else, we’re also looking up at ourselves as if we’re better than they are. God did not choose you because you made such an obvious good choice for him. Our daily sinful records bear that out. He chose us because of who he is. But that truth also lifts me up. When I’ve made a mess of my life or have hurt and ashamed others in my life, when I’ve slipped into that sin that I vowed never to commit again, when my actions have smeared the name “Christian,” then it’s my comfort to know that God chose me because of who he is. He brought me to faith in Jesus and he set me apart for himself. He enlightened me with the wisdom of the cross of Christ. He revealed a Savior who loves me so much he died for me. He’s done the same for you. So, be a humble boaster! Boast about why God chose you.

Part II.

Have you ever been subjected to a person going on and on about the things they have? How long do you listen? It quickly becomes unbearable. And from a Christian standpoint, the impression they want to give you isn’t even true. What they have doesn’t really belong to them; it belongs to God.

What we have comes from God. The Apostle Paul encourages that kind of boasting. Listen to what he writes, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” Let’s look closely at those final words—righteousness, holiness and redemption. We have righteousness or holiness. It’s the righteousness that comes from God to us. He declares us righteous because of the work of Jesus.

The fact that God has declared us to be righteous by faith in Jesus shows in the way that we live. We live sanctified lives—lives that glorify our God who chose us. God empowers us for godly living through his word and sacraments. That’s the second blessing—holiness.

And the third is our redemption. Here Paul is referring to our final redemption which will occur when Jesus returns. On that glorious day he will glorify our bodies and take us with him to live in the new heaven and the new earth that he will create. Even though that blessing hasn’t happened yet, it’s as good as complete because the Savior who died and rose to win it for us has promised it to us. His word cannot fail. So, if you want to boast about something, boast about what God has given you. Be a humble boaster!

When it comes to thinking and speaking about what you have, how often is your God left out of the equation? And when he is part of the equation, do we blame him for what we lack, rather than credit him for what we have? When Paul encouraged us to boast in the Lord about what we have, he doesn’t mention a single earthly thing. Instead, his sights are set higher—heavenly higher. He reminds us that our God no longer charges our sins against us—even our sinful boasting about what we have or our sinful craving or complaining about what we don’t have. He has set us apart as his people in Christ. He empowers us to live to his glory now. And part of that is humble boasting. Let’s not be content to simply recall all the spiritual blessings God has given us in Christ. Let’s boast about them to others, especially to those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior. Be a humble boaster! Amen.