Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought

Romans 12:3

The story is told of a group of little boys who were forming a club. At their first meeting, their agenda was to make the rules. After much discussion, they decided on only three rules:

1. Don’t act big.
2. Don’t act small.
3. Act medium.

In my reading of 1 Samuel, I was reminded of this story. After the battle with Amalek, when Saul had disobeyed God by keeping the best sheep and oxen, God sent him this message through Samuel: “When you didn’t think much of yourself, God made you king of Israel. . . . Since you have rejected the commandment of the Lord, He has rejected you from being the king of Israel” (1 Samuel 15:17,23, Living Bible). Somewhere along the way, pride must have set in, because initially Saul hid when the people wanted to crown him king. Those of us who are shy can feel a certain kinship with him. But just when we’re cheering him on in his role as a leader, we are devastated to read of how Saul’s life changed so tragically. So soon in his career, God had to reject him as king. Saul’s life was an example of what Nebuchadnezzar concluded in Daniel 4:37: “Those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

Jesus, in His concern for those who were confident of their own righteousness, told the parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector (Luke 18:9–14). He said that God heard the prayer of the tax collector because he “humbled himself”. The Pharisee did not impress God with his pious works; he appeared to have no needs, and so he went away empty. On another occasion Jesus taught His disciples to take lowly seats when invited to a banquet. He said it is better to be asked to a more honourable seat than to be demoted (Luke 14:7–11).

The principle, taught by both Jesus and Paul, is that God’s children should not strive for the praise of people. Paul says in Philippians 2 that Jesus “lowered Himself to become nothing of Himself”. All he did was done through His Father. Jesus, who deserves all honour, said of Himself, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). When Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), he was saying that we need to strive for this ideal. Because Jesus humbled Himself, God has exalted Him. Similarly, James advises, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). This is the upside down principle which will help us have the right concept of ourselves.

Reflections is a column of brief reflections on Scripture passages. This one is by Lena Bergen Friesen of Waterloo, Ontario.

Freelance submissions for Reflections (200–250 words in length) are welcome.