Boasting
As I finished yesterday's post, I started feeling a little guilty. Partly it was because I'm being blessed in my life far beyond - far far beyond - what I deserve. I've heard Dave Ramsey on the radio a few times, and every time somebody asks him how he is doing, he has the same answer - "Better than I deserve." I might pick up that same answer except I don't want to just be a copy cat.
But its true, I am doing better than I deserve. Partly I felt a little guilty because here I am, with blessing after blessing just being poured into my lap, and what did I do to deserve any of it? I know, I know, that's the meaning of grace, but it is still hard to accept. If it is hard to accept a compliment you know you don't really deserve from a person, how much harder is it to accept blessing that you don't deserve from a God who knows it?
But that's only part of it. Mostly I felt a little guilty because I fear that people might read this post, and they aren't in the same place that I am today. They don't see the blessing, they don't feel the grace, and they will get upset and bitter to hear how somebody else has it so good, while they have it so terrible. I know I've been there, wondering why the blessing on someone else I didn't feel was really worthy, and why was I stuck in the same rut I'd been in for way too long. It didn't make sense, and I hat to think that I might put somebody else in that place.
Then I opened my Bible this morning to Psalm 34. "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Now right away when I read something like that, I have to ask myself if I could honestly make that statement. Of course the answer is no, but I wish I could say yes. My lips are at times full of grumbling, jealousy, bitterness, despair. It happens. I want very much to get to the place in life where I can say like the song says, "When the darkness closes in, still I will say - blessed be the name of the Lord." That's how I want to live my life, its just that when the darkness actually does close in, I forget.
Verse 2 - "My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice." whoa, that's a different perspective from what I've had. I assumed that if I was boasting about what God has done, it would send a hurting person into a tailspin of despair. I know that has been my attitude when I'm hurting. But here the idea is for the hurting person to hear what God has done and instead of despairing to rejoice. To say, "You're right, God is good. Even though I don't see it in my life today, I know that it is true and I know that he has something great in store for me." That's the whole point of boasting in the Lord. I guess the difference is what you are boasting about. If you boast about worldly things (ha ha, I got a new guitar) you only provoke envy. But if you boast about Godly things (Hey, look what God has done in my life) the you are provoking rejoicing.
Then verse 3 - "Glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together." That's where this is supposed to end up. The praising person and the hurting person come to a place where they can praise God together.
This is the same Psalm that says, "The Righteous cry out and the Lord hears them, he delivers them from all their trouble. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
I guess the reality of the situation is that sometimes we are jumping for joy and praising God, and sometimes we are down in the valley and can't find our way - but we're still supposed to be praising God. Verse 19 - "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."
But its true, I am doing better than I deserve. Partly I felt a little guilty because here I am, with blessing after blessing just being poured into my lap, and what did I do to deserve any of it? I know, I know, that's the meaning of grace, but it is still hard to accept. If it is hard to accept a compliment you know you don't really deserve from a person, how much harder is it to accept blessing that you don't deserve from a God who knows it?
But that's only part of it. Mostly I felt a little guilty because I fear that people might read this post, and they aren't in the same place that I am today. They don't see the blessing, they don't feel the grace, and they will get upset and bitter to hear how somebody else has it so good, while they have it so terrible. I know I've been there, wondering why the blessing on someone else I didn't feel was really worthy, and why was I stuck in the same rut I'd been in for way too long. It didn't make sense, and I hat to think that I might put somebody else in that place.
Then I opened my Bible this morning to Psalm 34. "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Now right away when I read something like that, I have to ask myself if I could honestly make that statement. Of course the answer is no, but I wish I could say yes. My lips are at times full of grumbling, jealousy, bitterness, despair. It happens. I want very much to get to the place in life where I can say like the song says, "When the darkness closes in, still I will say - blessed be the name of the Lord." That's how I want to live my life, its just that when the darkness actually does close in, I forget.
Verse 2 - "My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice." whoa, that's a different perspective from what I've had. I assumed that if I was boasting about what God has done, it would send a hurting person into a tailspin of despair. I know that has been my attitude when I'm hurting. But here the idea is for the hurting person to hear what God has done and instead of despairing to rejoice. To say, "You're right, God is good. Even though I don't see it in my life today, I know that it is true and I know that he has something great in store for me." That's the whole point of boasting in the Lord. I guess the difference is what you are boasting about. If you boast about worldly things (ha ha, I got a new guitar) you only provoke envy. But if you boast about Godly things (Hey, look what God has done in my life) the you are provoking rejoicing.
Then verse 3 - "Glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together." That's where this is supposed to end up. The praising person and the hurting person come to a place where they can praise God together.
This is the same Psalm that says, "The Righteous cry out and the Lord hears them, he delivers them from all their trouble. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
I guess the reality of the situation is that sometimes we are jumping for joy and praising God, and sometimes we are down in the valley and can't find our way - but we're still supposed to be praising God. Verse 19 - "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."
posted by Jeff at 8:45 AM
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