CHECKS YOU CAN'T CASH

CHECKS YOU CAN’T CASH

Reportedly, during the prime of Muhammad Ali’s boxing career, a close friend grew weary of his continual claims that he was “the greatest.”  Knowing that Ali never played golf, his friend casually inquired of him, “So how are you at golf?”  Ali responded with an expected and humorous confidence: “I’m the best!  I just haven’t played yet.”

Point to ponder: ‘Does your mouth write checks your life can’t cash?’

I read an interesting quote attributed to Simon Cowell, formerly of American Idol fame.  He said “I could sit back and get someone to spin my achievements, I suppose, but when I see others do it, I always think, ‘Why are you telling me how successful you are?’  I am always suspicious of those kinds of boasts.”  Me too, Mr. Cowell, me too.

There is a synonym for boasting, one which is oft employed today by those who relish self-exaltation.  It is called “promotion.”  To be candid, many of us (in the guise of enhancing our personal achievements or ministries) resort to daily doses of unchecked and unabashed boasting.  It makes me scratch my head and wonder: ‘Where is our humility?’  Have we so soon forgotten Solomon’s sage advice?  “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

My father, the late Bishop Joseph Edison Bass, Sr., often posed a question specifically designed to make us keenly aware of the need for genuine humility.  Dad asked, “What do you have that you did not receive?”  His question was a condensed paraphrase of the Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Church of Corinth: “For who makes you differ from another?  And what do you have that you did not receive?  Now if you indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (I Corinthians 4:7) 

Paul expanded on this ethical concept in his letter to the Church of Rome: “Where is boasting then?  It is excluded.  By what law?  Of works?  No, by the law of faith.” (Romans 3:27) Although he was “a Hebrew of Hebrews,” Paul modestly concludes that “I will rather boast in my infirmities [as opposed to my accomplishments] that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (Philippians 3:5 - II Corinthians 12:9) And to the Church of Galatia, Paul wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

Here’s the thing.  Boasting is not only forged from and framed in unbridled arrogance; it is also the epitome of sheer ignorance.  Why?  Because any degree of self-exaltation overlooks the undeniable fact that you and I “are bought with a price.”  So you must “glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (I Corinthians 6:20) May I be transparent?  Whenever I am tempted to expand my own ego and to start tripping, I hear the whispered echo of my wise father’s voice: “What do you have that you did not receive?”      

James, the brother of Jesus, did not mince words about man’s egocentric temptation: “All such boasting is evil,” he wrote. (James 4:16) David’s testimony offers confirmation: “My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.” (Psalm 34:2) In other words, humility heals, while arrogance divides and destroys.

Allow me to pose today’s principle question once more: ‘Does your mouth write checks your life can’t cash?  The spiritual implications of this interrogative are completely clear.  Even though we can accumulate great and marvelous things, it is OUR GOD who is the giver of “every good and every perfect gift.”  So, whatever we ARE…whatever we DO...we must humbly recognize that all goodness comes “from ABOVE, from the FATHER OF LIGHT, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) 

Unquestionably, whatever exceptional values are inscribed upon the face of OUR LIFE-CHECKS, every one of them has been sponsored, signed and sealed by the Bank of Heaven.  Therefore, we dare not ‘trip’ or boast.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!