When you read Deuteronomy 7, you learn of God's great love for His people because of the covenant He made with their forefathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You also see God's passion to bless the people and give them the land to care for and enjoy, but only if they would obey His commands and live up to their end of their covenant with Him. In the midst of Moses' discourse, we read
"The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples" (Deuteronomy 7:7).
This verse resembles what Paul wrote the Corinthians:
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:26-30).
If we apply this truth today, we can surmise that God didn't assign us our purpose or distribute our gifts based on any latent goodness or superiority in us. If anything, He chose and uses us as an expression of His grace, so we should not be proud thinking we earned or deserved who we are, what we do, or what we have. We cannot boast in anything but Christ.
Are your talents or gifts a source of pride? Do you sometimes feel if others would work like you, they would enjoy the success you have? Do you see how foolish that is, for you had nothing to do with your gifts in the first place—they are bestowed by God as He sees fit? Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 10:8, "Freely you have received; freely give" and then apply that strategy as you express your purpose and creativity for the benefit of others and not just your own.
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