February 16, 2015
Thinking Highly
We recently went new car shopping
and even though we had an appointment, the salesman was distracted by others — phone
calls from other clients, saying hello those he knew who walked in the door,
and helping previous customers who were at the service counter. In the process
of finalizing the sale the salesman talked about the survey we would be getting
from the dealership and he let us know if he got anything less than a 10 his
record would be tarnished. I see a similar mindset in the churches I visit.
Pastors and members alike want everything written about their congregation to
be put in positive light. “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 measure of faith God has
given you” (Romans 12:3 NIV).
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Gail;
-----This particular scripture, in my estimation, is profoundly important. What you think of yourself sets a trajectory towards what you become. So it is kind of like a steering wheel. I think this is why Paul didn’t just say, “Think lowly of yourselves.” For humility isn’t about putting yourself down or behind others. It is about putting yourself where you truly are, where your being will truly benefit whatever it effects. So he says to think with sober judgment.
-----Interestingly, the word Paul uses for sober judgment is the word Mark and Luke both chose to describe the new frame of mind the possessed man of Gadarenes had after Jesus cast Legion out of him. It isn’t any sort of stodginess, or stoicness, or “ouie, ouie spirituality”. It is a Greek word simply meaning the mind working right. And isn’t that what Christ came for, and what God’s call from the Old Testament for Israel and commands for all other men is about, righteousness. That is, the state of being right. And that state settles in the mind and proceeds from the mind.
-----So we’re not called to move about all Zombie faced and devoid of humor, wit, or any other colorful elements of life, nor all timid and backseat and waiting for the other guy to express his choice so we can be sure to know what were the seconds meant for us. But we are to think of ourselves as we actually are, because that is where the next piece of the edifice we’re becoming fits, and it is part of what will need to define what will best fit there.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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