1 Corinthians 4:7 – 7For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
The Bible teaches us that everything we receive is from God. We cannot and should not boast in something we received as if it is something we earned or achieved. This is absolutely true of our faith. It is completely a gift from God. Throughout the history of the world, mankind has continually tried to claim things as earned or achieved by man (works of the flesh) that the Bible reminds us are gifts from God. Maybe we do this because we think more highly of ourselves than we ought. We think (or are taught) that there is something good in us that would choose God or there is something wise in us that would realize the truth and choose to believe it. This is not true. Like everyone who has ever lived before us, we need God to do the work of opening our eyes to His existence, our rebellion and need for salvation, His rescue through the cross of Jesus Christ, and our desperation for His righteousness. This gift of having our eyes opened (being born again) to these truths precedes faith — for you must be born again to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). When we get this wrong by thinking we earn or achieve faith, we start down the dangerous path of a legalistic Christianity. We think salvation begins with us so it must be kept and grown by us.
God is a gracious giver who delights in giving us every good and every perfect gift, including faith. We should boast in the giver of our faith, not in ourselves. If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Something to think about…
If I need God to even open my eyes to my need for Him and to give me faith to believe in Him, how much do I need Him in every other area of my life?