How Should We Think of Ourselves? In America, we take great pride in the fact we are Americans. We think highly of ourselves simply because we are born, or live in a certain country. A country, for most of us, that we didn’t choose, but it was only by the grace of God that we are citizens of the United States of America. If that were not enough to boost our ego, we proceed to exalt ourselves by the color of our skin, the neighborhood we live in, the jobs we hold, the clothes we wear, or even the churches we attend. We are a very proud and arrogant people.
This is totally opposite of what God’s word teaches, yet we seem, even as Christians, to fall into this ideology. Paul makes it very clear in Romans 12:3 and Philippians 2:3-5, that thinking highly of ourselves is a sin.
Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Philippians 2:3-5 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
These verses clearly point out that it is wrong to think highly of ourselves. However, we teach our children the opposite. We tell them “You’re better than them,” “You’re too good for them,” “I’m so proud of you, look what you’ve done.” These are an exaltation of self.
I understand we want our kids to feel special. We want them to excel and not feel inferior to anyone. We’ve all said things like this, but the truth is, we were wrong.
We are not special because of anything we have done. We are no better than anyone else. In God’s eyes, we are all the same.
It’s okay for our kids to suffer loss or get their feelings hurt. It’s good for them to see themselves for who they really are, especially as they get older. It’s right, and necessary, for them to recognize the fact that we are nothing without God. Everything we are is by His grace and mercy.
We need to teach them our real self-worth is determined by what Christ did for us. God showed us our worth when he was willing to send his Son to die for us. It is not what we have done. It is what he has done. He valued us more than the life of His Son.
If you still feel you’re pretty special, then compare yourself to the right measuring stick. We measure ourselves by others. If we use those around us as our measuring tool, there will always be someone better, and always someone worse. Our true standard is Jesus Christ! Now, measure yourself again by Him. This changes the perspective, doesn’t it? Suddenly that cocky, arrogant, prideful attitude goes right out the window. When measured against Christ, none of us measure up.
God hates pride and he makes that obvious in the following verses.
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate”.
Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
Paul was very aware of who he was, and what he was capable of doing. He remembered the zeal he had in persecuting Christians before He met Christ on the road to Damascus.
I Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
As Paul begins I Corinthians 15:10 he states, “But by the grace of God I am what I am:” Nothing is more common in the writings of Paul than the knowledge of God’s mercy and favor he bestowed upon him. Just like Paul, any tendency we have toward goodness or service that seems to man to be great is not of our own. All that we are or ever hope to be, even our eternal destiny can be traced back to the grace of our God.
Exaltation of self is the opposite of what God wants from us. He wants us to humble ourselves, and He will exalt us in due time. We can do nothing on our own. Without God, we wouldn’t even exist. We need to remind ourselves of who we are in light of who He is. Pride leads us to sure destruction, but humility leads us to Christ.
Excellent