More Highly

This topic has come up on this blog before but it bears repeating. One of the greatest dangers in all areas of human experience is those who think too highly of themselves. In Romans 12 Paul cautions with these words...

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.

Certainly churches and charities are at risk when those running them think they're more important than they are, but it's also true for governments, businesses and any situation where people assemble and assign leadership responsibilities. If you're blessed with responsibilities of any sort it is crucial that you think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the faith God has distributed to you.

When you think of yourself more highly than you ought things fall out of balance. You begin trying to take control of things over which you have no control. You decide things you have no right to decide. In the extreme we can look to Adolf Hitler whose high opinion of himself led the entire world into war and cost millions of lives. For less extreme examples we can look at pastors who think so highly of themselves they try to dictate how others do ministry or relentlessly attack the methods of others as illegitimate or worthless.

This topic strikes close to home for me because I recognize in myself the capacity to take myself more seriously than is healthy for me or anyone around me. Daily I must submit to God and work to properly assess whether or not I'm taking myself too seriously. As we pursue ministry, charity and all work to which God has called us, we must understand there is an adversary working to derail that work. He takes no prisoners and has no compassion. He will convince you that you're indispensable and the eternal salvation of others rests on your shoulders. Look closely at the collapse of any great ministry, business or government and I guarantee you will find at least one person at the top who thought more highly of themselves than was appropriate.

If God has blessed you with a vision for ministry or a successful business or civic leadership know that you will be tempted to think more highly of yourself than you ought. Succumbing to that temptation is the first step toward destruction. Don't take that step.