For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1 Corinthians 4:7

Chris had become a very successful entrepreneur right out of college and had been predicted by many to become the richest man in his country in the near future. On this Saturday evening, the family had met over dinner to celebrate the 90^th birthday of their father. Mac, his older brother had been struggling to find his feet in the job market, so he took the opportunity to make an appeal to Chris for a job with his company. He had been struggling for some time to hold down a job, and that incensed Chris. Seizing on his struggling brother’s vulnerability, he pounced on Mac with a shameful dress-down speech. He boasted about his achievements, stressing his ingenuity, initiative, and hard labor.

The old man shifted uneasily in his seat, and with a smile, told Chris what none at the table never knew. Chris, he said, was the most vulnerable and unintelligent of all his children, so he decided to prop him up incredibly early. While he was in college, Dad engaged a professor to sell a business to him. It was the old man’s own business concept with a well-developed business plan. The professor had to make Chris buy into the idea and sign up for a special entrepreneurship training right after college. Dad had arranged for someone to coach him through the development process, a bank to provide the capital, and a major customer for his products. Even the factory manager, accountant, and marketing director had been hand picked by dad and suggested by the bank as condition for the loan. “And so, Chris”, dad concluded, “it has all been a special favor from me. You have nothing to boast about. Your brother has struggled, but he deserves a break just like you got from me.” You could hear a pin drop. The old man struggled out of his chair and slowly walked out.

Sometimes, we wear our achievements as a badge of honor for the world to applaud our smartness. We brag and belittle others. But we forget that it has all been from the gracious hands of God (Deut. 8:17-18). Paul asks in 1 Cor. 4:7, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

Our life is all because of the love of God and His grace that comes through Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:8, 9; Acts 17:28). He requires that we acknowledge this and worship Him (Acts 17:17). However, we have set Him aside and are rather worshiping our achievements. We are trampling on each other to show off our abilities and trumpeting our accomplishments. But, just as Chris’ father had graciously worked all those things for him, so has God’s special favor been poured on our lives.

Therefore, the next time you are tempted to say to yourself, “What a man/woman I am!” check yourself and know that it is simply grace, God’s grace. Acknowledge Him in your life and worship Him through Jesus Christ, His grace offering to all men (Titus 2:11-13).