Day 29 | An Antidote to Arrogance

Reflection

Imagine if Paul had written the following: ‘Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself as completely useless with nothing to offer.’

If we thought of ourselves like that, what would life be like? Well, we’d be pretty miserable for a start. We wouldn’t serve people effectively, and what’s more, we’d be insulting the God who made us and gifted us.

This passage calls us away from arrogance. But it doesn’t call us toward shame or cowardice. Instead, we’re invited to think of ourselves ‘with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.’ This means recognising there might be some things we aren’t necessarily wired for, but there will be some things we are good at or can get good at. We all have a contribution to make.

It’s interesting how Paul calls us to think about ourselves ‘with sober judgement.’ If you have a conversation with a drunk person towards the end of a party, they’re more likely to talk about how amazing they are or to talk about how terrible they are at everything and how they’ve messed life up. We are called to avoid these extremes, and to think of ourselves with ‘sober’ minds.

As we recognise who we are in the sight of God, and the tools he’s put in our hands, we can set to work, serving both the church and the wider world with joyful confidence. We learn to live with true humility, which CS Lewis so helpfully described as ‘not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less’.

So, go confidently into this day, glorifying God and blessing others, for you have been given the grace to do so.

Responding in prayer

Lord, I am Your servant. You have called me and You have gifted me.

I thank You for making me who I am: with the heart I have, with the gifts I have, with the opportunities I have.

Help me today to serve You and others freely.