Growing up my family and I attended a small parish in the country.  I was baptized, confirmed, and married in that same church.  As children we looked forward to the annual Christmas program which was always held on Christmas Eve.  A classmate and I were very competitive and when we received our parts for the program we would count the words and the one with the most would celebrate that surely she or he was the most talented and had accomplished the highest achievements.  Why is it that even as young children we found ourselves comparing to others, especially in terms of  achievements, skills, and talents using metrics as simple as a part in an annual Christmas program. Even as young children somehow we perceived success as pleasing, not just to ourselves but to our peers, our elders, and to God.

In today’s fast paced, competitive world where everyone’s “achievements” are publicly announced on FaceBook, Instagram, Snapchat or all three everyone else’s success can begin to make us feel inadequate or insecure guessing whether they are more successful, more intelligent, or more influential. It may even force individuals to wonder if they have anything to offer to God and to the world, or if they are just wasting their potential. But in Paul's letter to the Corinthians, it is very clear that God does not measure us by the standards of the world. He does not care how many words comprise our part in the Christmas program, how many degrees we possess, how much has accumulated in our back accounts, or how many sports or musical instruments we can play.  But instead, He cares about how much we love Him and how much we rely on Him.

God chose us, not because of our merits, but because of His grace. He chose us, not to make us proud, but to make us humble. He chose us, not to exalt ourselves, but to exalt Him. He chose us, not to be wise in our own eyes, but to be wise in His sight. He chose us, not to be righteous, sanctified, and redeemed by our own efforts, but by His work in us.

God chose me, not to boast in myself or the number of words in my Christmas program part, but to boast in the Lord.  I want to boast only in the Lord, who has given me everything I need in Christ Jesus, who is my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Lord, thank you for choosing us by your grace, not by our achievements. Help us to resist the temptation to compare ourselves with others or to seek the approval of the world. Remind us that you love us and care for us, not because of what we can do, but because of who we are in Christ. Teach us to be humble and grateful for all that you have done for us. Let us boast only in you, Lord. Amen.