Keeping our Preaching in Perspective: Why no Preacher should Boast Before God

For I am not ashamed of the gospel,

for it is the power of God for salvation

to everyone who believes...

Romans 1:16

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

so that the surpassing power will be of God

and not from ourselves.

II Corinthians 4:17

For this reason we also constantly thank God

that when you received the word of God

which you heard from us, you accepted

it not as the word of men, but for what it

really is, the word of God, which performs

its work in you who believe.

I Thessalonians 2:13

For consider your calling, brethren, that 

there were not many wise according to

the flesh, not many mighty, not many

noble; but God has chosen the foolish

things of the world to shame the wise,

and God has chosen the weak things 

of the world to sham the things which

are strong...so that no man may

boast before God.

I Corinthians 1:26-29

When we preach the gospel, and see it bear its fruit by bringing life to the dead and sight to the blind, and see it strengthen the knees that are weak and the hands that are feeble, and see it save the lost and edify the saved, let us not believe it is because of us and our preaching or persuasion that this is happening.  For that would be like the shovel taking credit for digging the hole, or the violin taking credit for making the music.

No, let us rejoice that God has chosen to manifest His power through feeble vessels, that God has chosen to accomplish His redemptive work through the most ordinary of instruments.  Let us rejoice in the power of God.  Let us rejoice in His gracious choice of using us.  Let us rejoice that we are being used as His means of bringing glory to Himself through the preaching of His word.  Let us thank the Lord for the blessing of being used by Him in His great work of salvation.