Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Making Sure our Boasting is not Misplaced

Scripture Verse that Caught my attention today: 1 Corinthians 3:21a “So let no one boast about human leaders.”

Observation: Very true.

Application: Another scandal has hit the news, this time in the form of a prominent former assistant coach accused of sex abuse with under-age boys. There are also calls for his superior, the coach with more wins than any other major college football coach, to step down. It’s a total mess. Criminal proceedings have begun.

As I write there are disturbing accusations regarding a presidential candidate. That too is a mess, though perhaps not quite as heinous as the first.

Paul had the right idea long ago. “So let no one boast about human leaders.” Paul also reminds us that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”

I am not personally acquainted with the pressures that come with being a person with a high-profile vocation and/or life. I can only imagine. But I do know what it’s like to be human. And to be human is a complicated mixture of moral victories and failures, of triumph and despair, of being saint and sinner all rolled into one. To be human is good AND bad, not good OR bad. Sometimes we emphasize the former and sometimes we emphasize the latter but it’s only when both sides are considered that we get the most reflective portrait of a real human life.

When we allow ourselves to categorize humans as either good or bad we miss the point of being human at all. When we boast about human leaders we almost assuredly set them (and us) up for a fall. And if we do nothing but criticize human leaders, well, that’s hardly wise either.

The Bible tells us that one time a fella came up to Jesus and said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”

I think Jesus was onto something.

Prayer: Lord, as humans we are a complicated lot. Let us make sure our boasting is not misplaced. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Job 33 and 1 Corinthians 1-3)

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