Why is it wrong to boast about what you have received from God?
Boasting about what one has received from God is wrong because every believer has nothing except what was received by grace. Since we accomplished nothing of ourselves and possess only what God permitted, we cannot glory as though it were our own achievement. All standing and good things come from His grace.
Les teaches that this applies to believers, not the unsaved world. Believers are what they are and have what they have only by the grace of God. Therefore no one can puff up their chest and say, 'Look what I have accomplished,' because we have accomplished nothing of ourselves. The text says you did not have anything except what you received, and if you received it, why glory as though you had not received it? In plainer English, why glory over something you had nothing to do with? Les says every time we get an inkling that maybe we are somebody special, that thought should be knocked down, because we are nothing except what God has let us become—all based on His grace. He adds that he does not deserve three meals a day or the good things of life, but has them because God's grace permitted it. He notes these people were still carnal, not yet spiritually rich like the Ephesians, and had a long way to go, which ties back to salvation.
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
More Questions
Why can't a believer boast about what they have accomplished?
Every believer is what they are and has what they have only by the grace of God, so no one can legitimately boast about their own accomplishments.
Why can't Christians boast about their accomplishments?
Believers cannot puff up their chest and boast about their accomplishments, because they have accomplished nothing of themselves.