Tag: Pride

A Balanced View of Self…

Romans 12:3 (NIV)

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Our Verse of the Day has been referenced in a few previous commentaries; and to see it again implies to me that we need to take another look at it. The exercise of humility is so central to the Christian life that this reminder should not be dismissed….  And I think to understand Verse 3, we need to bring in Verses 1-2 for context:

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

In view of God’s mercy, we are urged to offer ourselves as living sacrifices – not only to God but to one another by extension.  Paul indicates that pattern for living constitutes a true and proper worship of God because to conduct yourself in this manner indicates both a humble and loving inner spirit.  It is the grace and mercy that God has shown toward each of us in Christ Jesus that cultivates and motivates a mindset of meekness and gentleness – that subdues our former haughty or arrogant attitudes.  And Verse 2 indicates that this approach to life is the result of renewing your mind (through faith which comes by hearing the Word of God) so that you do not conform to the pattern of this world. That pattern is a pride-filled spirit rooted in self-centeredness and self-reliance … and does not submit to, depend upon, or seek to please God.  To me, understanding this context allows us to see the imperatives of Verse 3 in relation to the “power” of faith to transform our conduct from inward pride to outward compassion….

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:

When Paul speaks of “the grace given him,” he is emphatic that his encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus was the greatest act of mercy and grace ever extended to anyone.  Because of his Pharisaical zeal, Paul was vehemently persecuting the earliest followers of Christ; flogging them; throwing them into prisons; even consenting to their executions.  The amount of innocent blood on his hands was so large that when confronted by the Lord Jesus, the flood of guilt was an ocean by comparison.  In his letter to Timothy, Paul referred to himself as the “worst of sinners” (Cf. 1 Timothy 1:15) but then he concluded, “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.” (Cf. 1 Timothy 1:16) So what Paul is saying here is that in light of the grace and mercy ALL of us have been granted by God – including those who are the worst of sinners – we ought to feel a great sense of humility!

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,

In light of God’s mercy and grace, we should have a proper understanding of our position before Him.  Salvation is a gift! Too often we tend to compare our own sins with those of others – determining in our own judgment that our personal sins are somehow less offensive to God than those committed by some other evil, vile, or wicked person. Paul cautions us to not deceive ourselves in this regard:

Romans 14:10-13 (NIV)

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

There are many hindrances to growing in grace and faith when we judge ourselves to be better or superior to others. God created us all, and He is the judge of us all. None of us have or will ever meet the standard of holiness God requires. There is no one who does good. No, not one.  (Cf. Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:12) Even Jesus affirmed this human condition when He asked: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Cf. Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19) Thus, Paul admonishes us (and we should embrace his insight here) to think rightly about ourselves. We need to rid ourselves of any religious piety or spiritual arrogance … for of such character were the Pharisees and Jesus called them out about it! Still, I find the next part of this verse as key to its interpretation and message:

In accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

This is an interesting caveat to the exhortation being given to us. When we assess ourselves, it should be without pride and it should be the result of a “renewed mind” as referenced in Verse 12:2. Paul is essentially explaining the way the renewed Christian mind should think.  And consider, of all things Paul could have said about human thinking and the way the mind works, he chose to address the issue of pride and what the mind does in thinking about itself in relation to other people. He says something negative and something positive, just the way he did in Verse 2. There he said, “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed in the renewal of your mind.” Here he says, “Don’t think more highly of yourself than you should, but think with sober judgment.” In other words, Paul is getting more specific and describing the way that the renewed Christian mind does not conform to the world but is transformed. And notice that the first thing he addresses is pride.

The issue of pride appears to be a great burden with Paul. Three times in Romans 11, he warned us against pride and conceit. Romans 11:18, “Do not be arrogant toward the [broken off Jewish] branches.” Romans 11:20, “You stand fast through faith. So do not become proud.” Romans 11:25, “Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery.” Then Paul takes it up again in Romans 12:16, “Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited.” Then again in Romans 14:4 as I shared above. This issue of pride and the view of self in relation to God and others is the deepest human problem in the universe. If our minds are ever to be renewed, the issue of pride is where we must start.

It’s not just a problem with the church in Rome. In Romans 8:7, Paul describes the fundamental problem that we have—all of us— “The mind that is set on the flesh (that is, the natural mind apart from God’s transforming Spirit) is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” That is the fundamental problem of your mind and my mind. We are insubordinate toward God. We will not submit to the truth that God Himself has ordained all that is true and good and right and beautiful and valuable and satisfying. Instead, the human mind thinks of itself as the judge and measure; thus, thinking too highly of itself.

My friends, I realize this study has become lengthy, but I just felt compelled to put some time into it and impress upon our hearts that pride in all of its shapes and forms is both deceptive and destructive.  Indeed, it is my prayer that we will be conformed to the image of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who humbled Himself and took on the nature of a servant to all. 

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 2:1-5

Calling Out Pride….

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NIV)

But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

I really like that Paul calls us out regarding our spiritual pride … our Pharisaic tendencies as Christians to boast in ourselves and our “perceived” self-righteousness.  The truth of the matter is that we need to remember: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities sweep us away like the wind.  (Cf. Isaiah 64:6) The ONLY true righteousness that we have or will over have is IMPUTED to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Cf. Romans 3:23)

Romans 4:1-8; 23-25 (NKJV)

1 What then shall we say that Abraham our forefather has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted according to grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” (Cf. Psalm 32:1-2)

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it (righteousness) was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It (righteousness) shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Jesus is the One who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.  (Cf. Galatians 1:4) It is Christ who redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Curse is everyone who hangs on a tree (pole).” (Cf. Galatians 3:13) And it is Christ who rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves. (Cf. Colossians 1:13) It is Jesus who delivers us from the coming wrath of God. (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:10) So, indeed, we should only boast in the Lord Jesus and Him alone!

So I pray that we will self-examine for pride in our hearts.  I pray that we will humble ourselves before God. “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Cf. Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14)  As Paul exhorted, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Cf. Romans 12:3) And 1 Peter 5:5 encourages the same attitude: “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (Cf. Proverbs 3:34) Humbling ourselves before the Lord and one another will keep the tendencies of pride from entering our hearts.  And I think the best place to start is the realization that we cannot save or heal ourselves.  Only Jesus effectuate salvation for us.  He is the only atoning sacrifice the Father will accept to impute His righteousness to our account….

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven … whose sin is covered. Blessed is the one to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

So Now You Know….

Have a Blessed Day!