Shame on You--o Silly Heart!
Christian humility is essential, as everything we have is from God and not something we accomplished on our own.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the futility of pride in the Christian life, reminding believers that all they have is a gift from God and that they are no better than anyone else by nature. He urges Christians to reflect on their past state of sin and the grace that has transformed them, highlighting that their accomplishments are not their own but rather a result of divine influence. Spurgeon calls out the absurdity of boasting when believers are merely debtors to God's grace, encouraging humility and gratitude instead of pride. Ultimately, he challenges the heart's inclination to exalt itself despite being a recipient of God's mercy.
Text
"What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have--that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God--why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?" 1 Corinthians 4:7
Christian! By nature--you are no better than others! What would you be--without the continual influence of the Spirit? O believer, whatever you are--you have nothing to make you proud. The more you have--the more you are in debt to God--and should you be proud of that which renders you a debtor?
Consider your origin--look back to what you were. "Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins!" Ephesians 2:1. Consider what you would have been--but for divine grace!
It is only God's grace--which has made you to differ! Great believer--you would have been a great sinner--if God had not made you to differ! O you who are valiant for truth--you would have been as valiant for error--if grace had not laid hold upon you!
Therefore, do not be proud, though you have a wide domain of grace--for once, you had not a single thing to call your own--except your sin and misery!
Oh! strange infatuation, that you--who have borrowed everything, should think of exalting yourself! How foolish--that you--a poor dependent pensioner upon the bounty of your Savior--are yet proud! Shame on you--O silly heart!
Sermon Outline
- You are no better than others
- God's grace made you to differ
- Do not be proud, but humble
- Consider your origin and what you were
- You have nothing to make you proud
- You would have been a great sinner without God's grace
- You are a dependent pensioner of your Savior
Key Quotes
“What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have--that God hasn't given you?” — C.H. Spurgeon
“You would have been as valiant for error--if grace had not laid hold upon you!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Shame on you--O silly heart!” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Recognize that everything you have is a gift from God and not something you earned.
- Be humble and acknowledge your dependence on God's grace.
- Do not boast or take pride in what God has given you, but instead, be grateful and thankful.