No Right To Glory

Ought a man, it may be asked, have credit for the results of the pains, precautions and knowledge he has? Within certain limits, God Himself recognises the affirmative answer, but in the meaning in which we are looking at the matter, the question does not go deep enough. If a man has wisdom enough to adopt wise measures, who is to have the credit for that wisdom, the man who has received, or the God who has given?

The answer is one that cannot be evaded:

“Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). There is one legitimate and rational subject of ‘glory’, and we have special permission from the Creator Himself to indulge it. That permission is conveyed in words which may seem childish to smart superficial modern civilization, but which actually tell us the real truth:

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“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom: let not the mighty man glory in his might: let not the rich man glory in his riches. Let him that glorieth glory in this: that he understandeth, and knoweth me, that it is I the Lord which exercise loving kindness, and judgement, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things do I delight”

(Jeremiah 9:23-24).

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Bro Friday Enyiogu (Ikwueke, Nigeria)