Romans 12: How-to Christianity (Part 2)
This is the second part of a three-part series on Romans 12: The Christianity How-to. CLICK HERE to read Part 1.
I wish I could say I was humble in my error. When he pointed out why we could not set the desk fully in place due to the overlap, I snapped back for him to get it out of the way. I was curt and sharp, and my words were out of a prideful sting in my shortcoming. Within seconds of my sharpness, I yearned to turn the clock back to stuff my revealed heart back in my mouth. In turn, it led to discord between him and me throughout the next few minutes of the project.
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3
On the flip side, we are also called to walk in the confidence of how God has specifically equipped us and to do so boldly. Discussing pride is difficult, and I would challenge you to lean into God’s spirit. Are you feeling gentle conviction or God’s word being used as a weapon from the enemy? I pray you will have discernment as we look at both sides of pride.
When I Am Prideful. When I looked back on the mishap in measurement, my sin was not that I mismeasured, nor did I forget about the table next to it. No, my sin was the heart issue of being disappointed in myself and taking it out in an argument to follow with my son. He responded kindly and calmly. His words were nothing for me to be upset about. My failure was pointed out, and I didn’t like that. Period.
Often, our place in life receives feedback we don’t appreciate. We misjudge the heart of another and make our own false conclusions based on what WE think should be done. I really didn’t get anything out of worship today. I wish my daughter’s school teacher would do a better job. We restrain ourselves from meeting a need in or out of the building because we “don’t feel called” to serve in that capacity. I would volunteer during the mid-week youth program, but my family needs me to be home with them. It’s just this season in my life. Perhaps we do serve, but we receive commentary from someone we need to do something different, and our feelings get hurt. I can’t believe I’ve spent all day cleaning, and my (fill-in-the-blank family member} commented about the dusty baseboards!
Our response when we receive this feedback matters. It is in these situations when we receive feedback our heart is revealed. If our response to walk away pridefully, thinking I can make better use of my time elsewhere, this is where we see our heart issue revealed. Did you resonate with any of these examples above? If so, you may have a root of pride gripping deep in the corner of your mind you were unaware of. Fortunately, we serve a God who is so much bigger than our pride and ready to walk with you through this journey.
When I Am Lacking Confidence. Over the past few years, I have taken the time to really dive into getting to know myself. Through tools like the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and StrengthFinders, I have learned what I am good at and what I am not good at. Recognizing that God’s character is equally revealed in each personality type and that I am created in His image (Genesis 1:27), I can have full confidence in how He has equipped me! Each one of us reflects God in some way. This does two things for me when I lack confidence.
It releases me. It allows me to let go of the areas I am not strong in and trust those in my life that God has more gifted in those areas to work in their gifting. This doesn’t mean I have an excuse to mistreat others, but it does mean I know your areas of weakness and pursue spiritual transformation authentically.
It empowers me. I get to work after the ways God has uniquely designed me to pursue him more honestly, staying in my scope of gifting more authentically, and be truly who he’s shaped me to be. By studying myself through these resources, I can articulate my strengths and understand how best to pursue them.
Recognizing my own shortcomings as a handyman and many other areas of my life, I find myself left to question how He can best use me. Jumping from one extreme of pride and self-desire to depressive, low self-esteem, I find myself searching for a middle ground to meet “my calling.” Dwelling for a few minutes on verses 4 through 8, I encourage you to petition God to reveal anew to you and your place in His Kingdom.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
— Romans 12:4-8 NIV
This is the second part of a three-part series on Romans 12: The Christianity How-to. CLICK HERE to read Part 1.
Do you struggle with too much pride or lacking confidence?
