Remembering That It's All a Gift Will Encourage You to Leave Behind

September 11, 2018

Remembering That It's All a Gift Will Encourage You to Leave Behind Comparison!

Romans 12:3

Elizabeth Tamlyn

Central Truth

When we realize that ALL we have is from God, we will have the right attitudes toward ourselves and the grace, faith, and gifts we have received! Then we can serve wholeheartedly and effectively, and we can bless others in our path!

Gifts of Grace

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

It's funny that Paul begins this section by reminding us of the grace given to him. If we all really remembered the grace given to each of us, we would not have the issue of thinking of ourselves too highly. We start thinking we have something to offer in our own strength like a gift or a skill that we have attained on our own. Paul points to the fact that grace was given to him. Then he speaks of the faith each of us has been assigned. Both are from God.

Having sober judgment is the best and logical response because I did nothing to earn, work for, or deserve the grace, faith, or any gifts He chooses to give me. I tend to miss the mark on thinking too high or low. Too high sounds like: “Yes, I got this.” Too low sounds like: “Everyone is better than I! Poor me!” Both attitudes are actually prideful, and Scripture tells us pride “goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18).

Memorizing Scripture has been a huge blessing for me. It helps me capture my thoughts and reminds me who God is. Everything I have comes from Him, and when I remember this, my response is a humble, grateful heart. An accurate view of yourself is what is needed to contribute to the kingdom in the most productive way. You have been given much: grace, faith to believe, and gifts. So it's not really about us. Our job is to be faithful with what we have been given without comparing it to what others have been given. Thinking of ourselves too highly is pride, but thinking of ourselves too lowly is actually also pride. If we pity ourselves and feel sorry about our lot in life, it indicates that we think we deserve better or deserve more. Self focus is destructive. It's all about Him, not me.

Having sober judgment begins with an accurate view of who God is and what He has done for us. Only then do we turn from pride to humility and can serve Him wholeheartedly and with great joy!

This month's memory verse

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

– Romans 8:38–39

1. Do you tend to think of yourself too highly or too lowly? Have your ever considered that thinking too lowly of yourself—or engaging in self-pity—is really pride? How can you adjust that wrong thinking to make it more in line with God's view?

2. What is one passage of Scripture that you can meditate on (or memorize!) to keep you "God-focused" instead of being "me-focused"?

3. Consider the ways that God has blessed you and spend time thanking Him for it. Write it down so you can remember!