Scripture

When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

~2 Corinthians 10:18, NLT

Quote

It is a poor dog that cannot wag its own tail.

~Naola Bailey

Have you ever been tempted to do something that you knew was wrong but you just could not resist? The Corinthian church was very critical of Paul. They loved the super apostles. They were very fond of Peter and Apollos, but hard on Paul. Of Paul, they said, “For his letters are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” [2 Cor. 10:10, NKJV] The New Living reads, “In person, he is weak and his speeches are worthless.” The New English Bible reads, “As a speaker, he is beneath contempt.” Folks there is no way to convert these statements into a compliment. This was a body slam and it had to hurt. What made it worse for Paul is that the Corinthians never paid Paul a red cent. It is one thing for a preacher not to be paid in money but to refuse to pay him a compliment is unspeakable.

So in 2 Corinthians 11 Paul can stand it no longer; since they refuse to commend him, he commends himself. Yes, he got in the flesh. He was human. He said, “Have you served Christ? I have served Him more. I have worked harder, been put in jail more often. I’ve been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and faced the dangers of travel and the persecution of the Jews.” This is a cardinal sin, we never defend ourselves: we never commend ourselves–it doesn’t mean a thing if we do. I know we feel slighted at times but we must resist the temptation of tooting our own horn. It makes everyone thing less of us, not more.

My first church out of seminary was in Cherokee, Alabama. A pastor friend in the area came by our house one Sunday evening just before church. He had a huge sheet cake in the back of his ford pinto station wagon. It was an amusing sight because Rob was 6’5″.  Just seeing him get into that tiny car was a sight for sore eyes. Of course I noticed the cake, it was huge. I ask him the reason for the cake. He said, “They are giving me an anniversary party tonight after church. I have been their pastor for one year.” I said, “Rob that is great; I have been here three years and no one has given me a party. You should be thankful.” He said, “Actually, I planned this one but they will catch on.” You want bet! I just don’t see how we can get any joy out of a party in our behalf that we planned ourselves.

Extra

Christy is not having many good days. Please pray for the entire Clark family. The G-Team finally made it to Guatemala after a four hour delay and having to change planes in Atlanta. They boarded and then the doors were shut but the plane had no power, no air and people began to get hot, there was some mild panic before they got the doors open and got them off the plane. Our grand daughter Mylee had never flown. I bet when she gets home, she stays grounded.

49er Luncheon Today

11:30–Ma Kroger’s Fried Chicken

Big Mama’s homemade bread

 

Extra/Extra

Another Bro. Rob story. I have to tell it now or I will forget. The church I served gave me $200 per year for convention expense. It was not enough for an SBC meeting: trust me, I tried. One of the deacons told me later, “Preacher, that was not for the SBC, that was for the Evangelism Conference, and we usually go with you.” Anyway the next year I carried Bro. Rob instead of them. Bro. Rob went back to his church and rubbed it in: “the neighboring church paid my expenses, he said; you should be ashamed, etc.” They put $600 in the budget for convention expense. The convention was in Atlanta that year. So Rob loaded up on Sunday night and heads to the convention. Only, I don’t think he even registered. They went to Six-Flags and then stopped on the way home and got his wife a sewing machine. I hope Bro. Rob doesn’t read this blog. He is a big boy!