"that none may boast"

I love to write. More than that: I love the process of writing. I love turning something from an idea in my head to words on a paper (or a computer screen). When I finally finish something, it is likely to have been written and re-written several times. I read, tweak, re-read, change, and read again. I find the whole practice of writing to be incredibly creative and rewarding. There really is no feeling like the one you get when you are truly happy with something that you have created and in which you take full ownership. In order to get to this point of satisfied completion, I strive for eloquence in my writing (and even in my mode of expression more broadly: the way I communicate). Recently, I’ve begun reading through Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, and stopped in my tracks when I read his “disclaimer”:

^“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)

I have never thought twice about this verse before, but this time it hit me right between the eyes. Paul tells the people of Corinth that he would not be eloquent if it would stand in the way of the message of Christ, emphasizing that it is not he, Paul, who is and must be the focus of the gospel message, but the message itself. In this statement, Paul implicitly acknowledges the Lord as the giver of eloquence and Christ on the cross as the epitome of effective expression. Moreover, Paul implies that there is an inherent risk in “words of eloquent wisdom”: surely nothing we can do can actually empty the cross of its power, but when we seek and successfully achieve “wisdom” of our own strength (whether by effective words or other measures of worldly success), we convince ourselves that we can do pretty well for ourselves, thank you very much. But hear this:

^“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.’” (1 Corinthians 1:28-31)

I don’t think that striving to be an eloquent writer is wrong, and I won’t stop writing anytime soon. In fact, I think we honor God with excellence. For me, these passages from 1 Corinthians caution me examine my motivation for writing—and living—the way that I do (FYI: obviously this lesson does not just apply to writing—think of anything in which you take pleasure and pride). Do I write for the thrill of reading a brilliant final draft? Or do I write for the glory of the Lord who gave me language? My challenge for us today is to investigate why we do the things we do: who is taking center stage? Who is being glorified? We must never lose sight of the cross, the core of our existence and motivation as Christians. And in sharing our faith—this gift of God’s love—we must never let it get lost in its delivery.