More highly than he ought to think

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 to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.  – Romans 12.3

I think it is interesting to note the very first thing addressed after verses one and two in Romans 12.

Submit yourselves as a sacrifice

Don’t be conformed, but be transformed

Don’t think to highly of yourself

Huh? How did that get in there? It doesn’t seem that is so important that it would be the first thing mentioned after sacrifice.

But on second thought maybe it does really fit there. We are supposed to be living as a sacrifice. We are not supposed to be conforming to this world’s way. We are supposed to be being transformed to the image and the mind of Christ.

All of that requires humility. We can’t do any of that if we ‘think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think.’ Being a sacrifice leaves no room for pride or arrogance or self-aggrandisement or ‘thinking more highly than we ought.’

Thinking soberly, or level headedly, means we see ourselves honestly. That means that we don’t too much about who get to be or where God puts us. When we think too highly we may think that we deserve better out of life. We may think that we deserve a better job, a better place to live, a bigger and more exciting ministry, or any number of ambitions.

Thinking too highly will always get in the way of sacrifice. It will always get in the way of service. It will always get in the way of straight thinking.

Paul also gives us a great warning in a letter to the Corinthians – ‘let him that think he stands take heed lest he fall.’

Let’s be careful thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought and just get on serving God.