I have spent a good portion of my life trying to get by on my own smarts, strength, and charm. Sometimes these things worked to my advantage, at least temporarily. But to be honest, I really don’t have much in the way of smarts, strength, or charm. So the things that I thought would help me succeed, more often than not, held me back from reaching my potential or my goals.
Our culture admires the strong, wise and charming people of the world. We place high values on these traits. Unfortunately, not many of us are blessed with these characteristics. Our efforts to achieve these qualities fall far short of our expectations. Therefore, we don’t experience the heights of acclaim and popularity.
Fortunately, God doesn’t judge by the world’s standards. I Corinthians 1:26-31 says, “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'”
So let’s give up trying to earn praise from the world. Instead, let’s trust in the Lord’s wisdom, strength and beauty. In return, we will receive His righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Though undeserved, those are the things that we can boast in by His grace.
Reluctant Retiree 