The most dangerous place to be is thinking too highly of ourselves (what the world deems as self confident) or the opposite, too lowly of ourselves.
Paul reminded us of this in our weekly scripture above.
In other words, while you may do something well or better than another person, if you’re not careful, this can lead to pride and arrogance.
There will always be someone who will do certain things better than you because we have all been given different gifts and a measure of faith, not all faith.
We need each other and we ought to celebrate the gifts in others in a way that honors the Lord and brings glory to Him.
Our culture has created and perpetuates an environment where it makes it very easy for us to compare ourselves.
Yet, Paul gives us this warning that the only way we ought to evaluate ourselves is based on the faith God Himself has given each of us.
Have you ever heard someone say something and as you listen to the words that come out of his/her mouth, it makes you sick to your stomach?
You begin to wonder do they even hear themselves because the words are so laced with pride, arrogance ,or even extreme insecurities.
Don’t be too quick to judge this person, however, because what you may hear from them may be a check for you from the Holy Spirit for one of two things.
It could be an opportunity for you to pray to make sure you don’t fall into the same trap
It could also be a conviction from the Holy Spirit that what you recognize in others, you, too, may be guilty of the same.
May we always be in the proper space to make and keep an honest evaluation of ourselves so we don’t fall into this trap of the enemy.
This week:
Take some time to do an honest evaluation of yourself. Think about your pet peeves and/or the things that bother you, frustrate you, anger you, disgust you and overwhelm you about others. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas where you haven’t been honest in your evaluation of yourselves as well as areas where you may have been thinking too highly or too lowly of yourself. Ask Him to give you a propr perspective and to provide the balance.
Lady In Waiting 222 