WHOM THE LORD COMMENDS

"For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." (2 Corinthians 10:18)

IT IS IN THE HUMAN NATURE – fallen human nature – to seek the approval of men. Many a soul has been dashed upon the rocks of despair due to disappointment in this area. This is a particularly critical area in matters of religion. Jesus spoke of those who do everything "to be seen of men" (Matt 23:5). Preachers have been known to change their message so men would approve of them. Paul said that if he sought to please men he "should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal 1:10).

SOME HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID being commended by men, yet have been caught in the snare of self-approval, or thinking more highly of themselves than they ought to think (Rom 12:3). They have been led to believe one must have a good "self image" if they are going to be successful. This kind of thinking is encouraged by the psychoanalysts of the day – so much so that it is not uncommon to hear someone say you cannot love others until you first love yourself. This is a form of commending one's self – something strictly forbidden by this text.

WITH GREAT SOBRIETY we are told that the person who commended himself is not the one who is approved – good self image or not. The Basic Bible English version reads, "For the Lord's approval of a man is not dependent on his opinion of himself." It is what God thinks of a man that is the critical factor. If the Lord commends a person, it makes no difference whether anyone else does or not. If He does not commend a person, the views of all others cannot make up for that lack of commendation.

THE VERY THOUGHT OF BEING COMMENDED by God is arresting! It is also something to be fervently and confidently sought. Our text says the "approved" person is NOT the one who "commends himself." In another place, Jesus said, "He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself" (John 7:18, NIV). Such individuals address life as though everything depended upon them, and nothing hinged upon the Almighty. They live as though there was no God, and imagine there is no personal recognition unless it is aggressively promoted by the one desiring it. Whether we are speaking of our birth into this world, or our attainments in the world, "Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves" (Psa 100:3).

TO "COMMEND" OURSELVES is to point to OUR achievements, to glory in the flesh, and present our accomplishments as though they were significant. If you are even casually familiar with the religious environment of our day, you know there is an enormous amount of self-commendation to which believers are being submitted. None of it is right.

THE APOSTLE DREW BACK from such an approach, not venturing into a condemned approach to life. "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Cor 10:12, NKJV). There is a class of people– religious people – who speak more of themselves than of the Lord. Their notions of both worth and accomplishments are cultured by measuring themselves by human standards and attainments. Such an approach to life is "not wise" because it will inevitably position one in a bad stance on the day of judgment.

AND WHY IS THIS THE CASE? Because these people are NOT accepted by God. His stamp of approval is NOT upon them. The approval of God is essential to every aspect of salvation. No one will be saved without it. To be without God's commendation or approval is to be lost in every sense of the word.

WHOM DOES THE LORD APPROVE? Who will be able to stand before His presence with confidence and joy? It is the person He "commends." It is the one to whom He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." This is the person who will receive "praise from God" (1 Cor 4:5). It is the individual that God will "honor" (John 12:26) – and honor that comes "from God only" (John 5:44). The person whose faith is ultimately "found unto praise and honor and immortality at the appearing of Jesus Christ" is the one God commends (1 Pet 1:7).

THE THOUGHT OF BEING "commended" by God is by no means common in the church world – but it is at the heart of God's Kingdom. The ordinary religious person is often found seeking the approval of men, and doing it with great zeal. Such efforts are vain, for they exclude one from Divine approval. God will never approve those who modify their behavior and live their lives to gain the endorsement of men! Far better to give diligence to be a workman "approved by God" (2 Tim 2:15)! This will be accomplished when we can say from the heart, "For me to live IS Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil 1:21). God will commend that person!

– Given O. Blakely