On To Better Boasting

Do mission reports ever seem too impressive?  

This is because it is hard to understand what is going on in a place one has never been or never lived.  Then it becomes even harder to comprehend what roles various people and ministries play in those Gospel accomplishments.

Boasting and Ministry Overlap

One of our problems is we think too individualistically about our own and each others’ contributions, and the accomplishments of our church’s missionaries.  Maybe if we recognized that teamwork is the way God designed His mission to advance, we could relax about ourselves, others’ claims, the assigning of credit, and more readily glorify God for what He is doing.

Recently I rediscovered this passage of Scripture which speaks to us about this matter.

2 Corinthians 10:13–18 ESV “But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

There is plenty of affirmation to go around to all who labor in the forward movement of the Gospel.  God gives us areas of influence as He determines, and would have us rejoice greatly both in our work and in the work of others.  We should speak plainly and clearly about this, and appreciate the synergy of combined efforts that God empowers. 

Boasting about Our Work

Many times missionaries, ministries, and other Gospel workers, wrestle with reporting.  What is honest, and not overstatement?  How can this story of success be told with humility?  On the other hand, will people be able to handle hearing about what is not going well?  

They yearn to tell the larger story of what God is truly doing on a much larger scale, even beyond their own ministries, and yet through their ministries, as they envision and describe the future God might create.

Sometimes there is too much pride, but other times there is too much humility.  Both are unhelpful.  The report and the vision we all need to hear contains reasonable judgment with a strong emphasis upon the power of Christ.

Romans 15:17–18a ESV “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me . . .”

It is good to boast, and to boast well.  This is done by claiming one’s own work and not the work of others as one’s own.  Be honest and clear and give recognition to the significant work of others.  This better boasting exalts the power and glory of Jesus Christ before all the Church.

Reading Well and Rejoicing Well

We should expect impressive reports.  But we should also expect these reports will include stories of many servants of Christ working together.  

There will be overlap because God has called us to partnership in the Gospel.  So don’t think too small or be too skeptical of those impressive reports.  Instead, pay closer attention to them.

May we become better at reading and listening more carefully, reporting more carefully and more exuberantly giving glory to God for His work through all of us individually and together as His team!