2 Corinthians 3:4, 5: “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.”
I was talking recently with my brother-in-Christ, Oscar, who is a member of the sales team I am a part of at my work, about the subject of pride and the need to continually draw on the sufficiency of God – El Shaddai. We agreed that in our job roles, there is a fine line regarding being prideful when sharing about our success in sales, and just every day being excited about seeing positive, successful results due to God’s blessings, and our need to rely totally on Him for results. Sometimes we might appear to be boastful, but Paul never was. Paul knew that what he had written in his letters to the Corinthian believers might sound proud, and he defended himself against those false accusations, but Paul’s heart and focus in his ministry, was always on Jesus, and not himself. Because of Paul’s ministry, many of the Corinthians had changed lives and were still evolving and being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. That was the proof of Paul’s authenticity of his calling as an apostle.
Paul was a brilliant and highly educated man, yet he taught with simplicity and godly sincerity. Paul knew God was using and enabling him with competence to inform others of the truth of God’s Word. Paul believed in the power of God to miraculously change people’s lives, and not from mere miraculous signs of healing, lived what he taught, and left the results to God.
So how do we go about our role in our workplace in trusting and having faith in God’s sufficiency in using us to be of impact and benefit to our company and to be a witness for Christ? When it comes to one’s faith, the way we live, speaks louder than words. Doing more than just enough, doing your tasks thoroughly and on time, being honest, having pure speech, delivering excellent quality of work, and people will know you are a Christian. It takes work.
Spurgeon has said, “Our sufficiency is of God; let us practically enjoy this truth. We are poor, leaking vessels, and the only way for us to keep full is to put our pitcher under the perpetual flow of boundless grace. Then, despite its leakage, the cup will always be full to the brim.”
Do you realize God has a purpose in you being at your particular place of employment, the age you are at, and family you were born into?
Are there times you feel inadequate? My hand is raised high! Pray for God to make you of benefit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you enable your God-given natural talents to bridge the gap you feel enslaved in as you grab tightly to your hope and faith and focus on Jesus.
As Paul has said, in 2 Cor. 3:4, 5, “our sufficiency is from God,” and by His grace alone. We may feel inadequate, not trained enough, not excelling in abilities, or experience. Paul, Moses, Jeremiah, David, and many others admitted feelings of fear at times but they remained steadfast in the grace God freely given and they all gave God credit for any accomplishments made. We can also rest in the sufficiency of God as we place our faith and strength confidently in God’s power to fight our battles. So how will you respond?
Listen to Lauren Daigle – You Say (Official Music Video).