What Hast Thou That Thou didst Not Receive?

 

JANUARY 19
 
What hast thou that thou didst not receive?
1 Corinthians 4:7
 

 

Believer, ponder this question.
 
It is intended to destroy the pride of thy heart,
  and to produce genuine humility.
 
What has thou?
 
Look around thee, how many mercies!
 
Look within thee, what gifts and graces!
 
Look before thee, what glorious prospects!
 
Compare thyself with many of thine acquaintances;
   contrast thy circumstances with theirs,
    how different!
      how preferrable!
 
But who made thee to differ?
 
Who conferred these benefits?
Did you inherit them?
 
Who ordained the relationships?
Did you procure them?
 
Who gave you the means?
Did you receive them from God?
 
Then gratefully acknowledge it.
Then be humble before God.
Then beware of boasting before men,
   or despising others.
 
Trace up all the mercies to their source, and
  you will find it to be free and sovereign grace.
 
We have nothing that is good,
  nothing that is valuable,
    nothing that is useful,
       nothing that is ornamental,
but we have received it from our good and gracious God.
 
Therefore let him that glorieth glory in the Lord.
 
But, if we have received all from the Lord,
  ought we not to use all for the Lord.
 

Lord, let thy mercy crown

Ours yet remaining days;

And, when thy will on earth is done,

In heaven we’ll sing thy praise.

 
 
James Smith 1849