Letters of Recommendation Backed By a Life of Reality

Significance

Letters of Recommendation Backed By a Life of Reality

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
 
The importance of impressive recommendations can’t be overemphasized. These endorsements often pave the way for good opportunities. But a written word alone is not always an accurate indicator. There must be something tangible to prove that the words are true.

This is the time of year when high school seniors start finalizing college plans. In our house there has been a flurry of filling out scholarship applications, writing personal essays, & collecting recommendations from teachers, employers, coaches, & friends. All of this paperwork is neatly packaged and sent away to impress scholarship committees into awarding funds that can be put toward college tuition.

Sometimes the applications are rejected and sometimes they are not, but any rewards that come are based on all of the requirements being fulfilled. The committee that chooses the winner must feel confident that the applicant qualifies. The letters of recommendation may help to prove this is true.
But sometimes recommendations are not accurate. A while ago we employed a bricklayer to do some work on our home. Because I didn’t know this company I asked for recommendations. I called a few of the names given to me and decided to move forward with the job. I trusted the good words these satisfied customers spoke to me. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the work on our home. I realized too late that I should have done more than listen; I should have previewed some of the company’s work.
The church of Corinth had not learned this lesson. They were highly influenced with impressive letters of recommendation. They based their decisions for church leadership on a written word instead of practical results. In fact, they came to rely on these letters so heavily that they found fault with the Apostle Paul for not bringing them a letter stating his credentials.
Paul refuted their misuse of this practice by reminding them that they already knew him. They had heard him speak the truth and had seen the lives that had been changed by his message. They, themselves, were his letter of recommendation, written not on paper with ink, but on their hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Others who saw the life changes brought about by the gospel message would recognize for themselves that Paul was sincere and sent by God. He was not like many of the other impressive “letter holders” they so highly valued who used their recommendations to sell the Word of God for profit and produced no lasting fruit.
Today many of us fall into this same trap. We highly value men and women who hold impressive diplomas. We often make our choices for role models and church leadership based solely on background, education, charisma, and recommendations from significant high-profile people. But is this the best way to make these decisions?
According to the Apostle Paul and the better part of wisdom, it is not! All letters of recommendation, no matter how good, must be backed up by a life of reality. This is the best indicator of what is true.
I am grateful for the kind letters that many have written for my high school senior, but I am even more grateful for his life that proves these words are true.

Make sure when you are in a position to judge a person’s character, work ethic, or spiritual leadership qualifications you look deeper than a written statement of credentials. The most accurate indicator of a person’s qualifications don’t come from a written recommendation alone, but from a life that proves the words are true.

Love,

Mama

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Hi, I'm Sandy! 

I write inspirational letters based on the Bible that share words of hope, encouragement, truth, and healing to my children and anyone else who longs for a mama's touch.

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