一般而言，我們大部分的人都不欣賞自誇。我們不喜歡自誇的人，因為他們似乎一心想高抬自己藉以壓過我們，再不然就是他們太渴望得著我們的認可。無論哪一種情況都令人難受。更叫人討厭的是誇耀自己靈性的人──他不但在人間的水平上高你一等，還在天上取得了更優越的贊許。多麼驕傲啊！

        保羅在十二至十八節也談到有關誇口的事，特別是針對主的事而言。他提到那些「用自己度量自己」，「用自己比較自己」（12節）的人，並宣稱他絕「不敢將自己和那自薦的人同列相比」。保羅並非反對偶爾誇口一下（參11：16）──他只是拒絕毫無根據的自誇。例如，他說他「不願意越分誇口」，也就是說，他絕不會概略的說：「我為上帝做了大工」，相反的，他會說：「我在哥林多人中間為上帝做了很大的工作」。就如他在十三節所說的：「只要照上帝所量給（他）的界限」誇口，而他的實績是──「搆到你們（指哥林多人）那裡」。換句話說，他會向那些知道他「記錄」的人誇口，而那些知道他記錄的人會曉得，他誇口的底線是「在主裡」。

        與毫無根據的自誇一樣令人討厭的是假謙虛。為什麼？因為我們都能直覺的曉得：對別人的稱讚報以自貶的回應其實是要求得到更多的稱讚。當你稱讚某人，你希望聽到的會是：「是的，謝謝你，我自己也很高興」，或者類似的回應。

        若是談到上帝的工作，何不說：「讚美上帝！祂作了大事！」然後感謝祂讓你參與其中的過程。

        主啊，謝謝您賜給我們爭戰的兵器，使我們在您裡面有能力可以攻破魔鬼在我們生命裡所築的堅固營壘。每天讀您的話和禱告使我們能勝過那些阻礙我們在您裡面成長的事。我們讚美您的供應。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Generally speaking, most of us disapprove of boasting. We don't like boasters because they seem either bent on putting us down by exalting themselves or, on the other hand, too hungry for our approval. In both cases it's a pain. Doubly obnoxious is the person who boasts about his spirituality — he's not only better than you on the human plane, but he's also achieved superior approval on the heavenly plane. Such arrogance!

        Paul talks about boasting in verses 12-18. The context: boasting about ministry. He refers to those who "measure themselves by themselves" and "compare themselves with themselves" (v.12) and declares he won't even "dare to classify or compare ourselves with these who commend themselves." It's not that Paul is opposed to a proper boast once and a while (see 11:16) —it's just that he refuses to boast apart from track record. For example, he says he "will not boast beyond proper limits", that is, he won't say, "I've done a great work for God" in a general way. Rather, he will say, "I have done a great work for God among the Corinthians". Or, as he says in verse 13, he "will confine [his] boasting to the field God has assigned to [him]", and here is where track record comes in — "a field that reaches even to you". In other words, he will boast to those who know his record, and those who know his record know that his bottom-line boast is "in the Lord".

        Something just as obnoxious as unsupported boasting is false humility. Why? Because we know intuitively that a self-deprecating response to commendation is just a call for more commendation. What you want to hear when you commend someone is, "Yes, thank you. I'm pleased myself", or something along that line.

        And when it comes to God's work, how about saying, "Praise the Lord! He has done great things!" And then thank God for including you in the process.

        Thank You, Lord, for the Apostle's encouragement. You have given us weapons which are mighty in You to the tearing down of the devil's strongholds in our lives. Daily reading your Word and praying enable us to war and win over those things in our lives that are enemies of growth in You. We praise You for Your provision.