I am good at what I do. Is it wrong for me to feel good about that?

Jeremiah 9:23-24This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.”

John 15:5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

1 Corinthians 3:5-7After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

2 Corinthians 3:5It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.

Philippians 4:4Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

When using our God-given abilities, we will feel happy and fulfilled. Rejoicing in our abilities is natural, but we should let that rejoicing be in gratitude to the God who gave them and who works through them. Only a humble dependence on him will produce lasting fruit from our efforts.

1 Samuel 16:7The Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-3If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Galatians 1:10Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

Receiving praise and admiration from others can be gratifying and encouraging, but we should be wary against allowing personal achievement to become our chief motivation. Our gifts are a way to bless others, a way to imitate God’s goodness and bring glory to him. When we start using our gifts out of pride instead of love, we miss the point.