2 Corinthians 3:5 – Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
What a humble statement from Paul. What a great example for us to follow. If anyone had reason to boast or have confidence in themselves or their accomplishments it was Paul. But instead, Paul points us to God. Any sufficiency, any amount of qualification, any claim to being enough is only because God is sufficient, God is qualified, God is enough!
I’m not very good at being humble. I need people to notice and affirm me when I do something. I have a lot to learn from Paul here. “Our competence comes from God.” It doesn’t say my competence in ministry comes from God. It doesn’t say my ability to be qualified to do my work comes from God. No, my competence, in anything, comes from God.
That statement sure hurts my pride, but it helps me not to fear, not to stress, and not to be ashamed. Because my competence comes from God, it’s not up to me to do it right, to figure it out, to be the best! I try too often to be enough in my own strength. The truth is that I will never be enough in my own strength, but I am already enough in Christ.
When you hear that your competence comes from God, what comes up for you? Does a challenge rise up within you or does a peace settle over you? Do you agree or disagree?
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phillipians 2:13
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