“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.” – Romans 12:3 (MKJV)
“Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” For this “not-so humble” person it’s an incredibly toys in the attic kinda thought to start your day off with but it was what popped in my head as I opened the door at our local Wawa and some nicely dressed blur, with an i-Phone to their ear, breezed in front of me and mumbled something that sounded like, “Oh thank you very much.” Never knew that I was being so closely followed and as I watched the blur cruise through WaWa a different thought rang in my head as I did the “selfless” act of self-checkout…step aside mere drop of water and allow the ocean to pass.
The funny thing about this moment is that the question of who’s the drop of water and who’s the ocean doesn’t even cross my mind. You’d think it was the blur with the i-Phone, after all, it seems as if they thought themselves more highly than they oughta just because they breezed me as I opened the door, BUT as I said the last time I was with you, that thought of “at least I ain’t like that so-n-so over there” was right behind the thought of not thinking of oneself more highly than they ought. How tempting it was to just waltz outta WaWa with an attitude that says “Get outta da way and let the Sea of Chris pass” and never be any wiser for the experience. However, as I leaving, someone opened the door for me as I exited and I mumbled something that sounded like “Oh thank you very much” and I was on my way.
“So says Jehovah, Do not let the wise glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty glory in his might; do not let the rich glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am Jehovah, doing kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these I delight, says Jehovah.” — Jeremiah 9:23-24
It’s a not so funny thing that pride can weave its way through every aspect of our daily living. While I was spending my free time getting educated (which isn’t a bad thing), I never knew of, heard, or cared about the sarcastic tone in my voice. I thought myself quite the scholar amongst the masses. It wasn’t until an incident at work, where I got called out for it, made me aware that my spiritual gift of sarcasm wasn’t sitting good with those who are placed above me.
Sooo….my adventure in Human Resources pretty much did its job of reeling me and making me think. My conclusion on the matter came to a very clear-cut statement…I am that I am not. Bottom line, even though I know I am not God, I sure was behaving and speaking as if I was Him. The Sea of Chris had been parted and my polluted heart was exposed. So where does this leave me now?
Well, I gotta be content with stuff like wisdom, strength and riches being those things that aren’t mine to boast in but things sanctioned and provided by God. If God didn’t want me to get educated, He wouldn’t have made a way for me to understand those subjects, endure their learning and provide the resource to cover its expense. Simply put, I achieved what I achieved because of Him and in this, I am the drop of water privileged to be a part of His ocean. Isn’t that the plan all anyway and can I be content in this? Hmm…
That remains to be seen, doesn’t it? In the meantime, I should stick my face in the 12th chapter of Romans and reread the part that says “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.” Anything else is me trying to be I AM and as we’ve established, I AM NOT.
I’m not proposing that we should maintain a low self-regard for ourselves, even if it is a point in which to start from, but rather we should maintain a high regard for the things of God and for His Son, Jesus Christ. This helps us understand that the opposite of pride isn’t paralyzing self-condemnation but liberating Christ-exaltation.
All that fancy education I got needs to be used as the spiritual gift it was meant to be and it needs to be used in a way that magnifies the Name of Jesus Christ and not the Sea of Chris. I don’t know how much of an ocean you view yourself being but know this, the same power that split the Red Sea so His people could pass is the same power that can reduce you down to a mere a drop of water. Let’s hope there isn’t anything less. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a child of El Elyon, a son, a husband, a father, who has an education in Biblical Doctrine and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy 2003. He also has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can e-mail him at cphughes515@verizon.net
