1 Corinthians 3:21-23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; I. THE GENERAL SCOPE OF THE DECLARATION. Of course all things are not the Christian's in the sense of actual right or control. A man possesses that which he turns to his own account. A miser, though abounding in wealth, is a very poor man; although he has all things he possesses nothing. So all things in creation and providence shall as certainly minister to the Christian's present and eternal welfare as if they were absolutely his own. "All things work together for good to them that love God." II. THE SEVERAL PARTICULARS. 1. All ministers are yours. Whatever their talents, zeal, piety, fruit, you have an interest in them all. Christ thought of you when He gave some apostles, &c. Feel that you have a personal property in your ministers, not only in their time, talents, prayers, but also in their spiritual prosperity and their growth in grace. 2. The world is yours. The world is created for the saints, and for their sakes is it preserved. It is a mere stage of action for them, and when of these the last has obtained his crown it shall be burned up, having fulfilled its mission in preparing man for a higher condition of existence. The earth hath God given to the children of men, but in an especial sense to the redeemed. It belongs not to men of the world to whom providential gifts are often a ruin. 3. Life is yours, i.e., as it is a blessing, as it serves us for doing the work of God. He lives twice who lives for life's great end. Only use it rightly, and life is yours. 4. Death is yours; because to the Christian to die is gain. III. THE SOLID GROUND UPON WHICH THESE ASSURANCES REST: because "ye are Christ's." Ministers, &c., are not yours by any right of your own, not yours for your obedience, your prayers. And therefore remember that if you are not Christ's, then none of these things are yours. Ministers are not yours, for they shall rise as a testimony against you; nor the world, for it is a master by whom you are held in bondage; nor life, for its things are not blessed to you; nor death, for he comes as God's executioner, to drag you from your tenacious hold on things present, and to make you view your forfeited interest in all the joys of things to come. Oh, see to it, then, that ye are Christ's by a good confession, by a choice of service, by faith, by love. (D. Moore, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;WEB: Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, |
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