reflections on the reading

Using the Daily Remembrancer for scriptural inspiration, we find ourselves in 1 Corinthians.  Now, I normally don't use a dynamic equivalence translation for Scripture but I felt that there was more to the verse than the NASB translation was plainly stating.  After reading the original Greek and the commentary, I looked through about a dozen different translations to find one that captures the essence without requiring exposition, which lead me to this translation.

"Who says that you are any better than other people? What do you have that wasn't given to you? If you were given what you have, why are you bragging as if it weren't a gift?" (1 Cor. 4:7, 'God's Word trans')

Just slide in your demographic of choice for 'other people', be it race, political belief, creed, socio-economic status, colour, gender, physical shape or ability, gender preference, etc. etc.  There is so much here that COULD be said, but I feel like I'm gilding the lily.

We are all made in the image and likeness of the Divine, who has given each of us the charisms and gifts we have.  Of course, they're not all the same charisms and gifts, but everyone does have them and none are better or worse than the others.