DON’T OVERRATE OR UNDERRATE YOURSELF

Romans 12:3 KJV

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Dear Believer,

You must strike a balance in your self assessment. An accurate assessment of oneself is a great indicator of spiritual, social, mental and even physical stability.

Consider a five year-old boy who is so confident in himself that he challenges a professional boxer to a fight. Naturally speaking, his confidence, positivity or a sense of purpose won’t mean a thing. Whatever he does, he won’t ever win that fight.

We are admonished to not overrate ourselves. This starts with wrong thinking. That is why Paul says you shouldn’t think of yourself more highly  than you ought to think.

This means there is a way you ought to think about yourself.

Lucifer thought of himself more than he ought to think. He wanted to place his seat above that of God. He was brought down and he became Satan. (Isaiah 14:12-15).

Now, it is just as important that you do not think of yourself more lowly than you ought to think. False humility is just as dangerous as arrogance. It cheats people of victory and limits them to a corner.

God called Gideon a mighty man of valor; he called himself nothing. (Judges 6:12-14).

God told Moses he could deliver Israel and then gave him powerful signs to prove it. Moses refused. He gave untenable excuses. “I can’t talk.” “They won’t listen to me.” (Exodus 4:10-13)

Because Moses refused to think himself highly enough, God was forced to make Aaron his spokesperson. This didn’t play out well because Aaron was an unstable character who led Israel into idolatry at some point. (Exodus 32:1-7).

Paul warned Timothy against being timid. (2 Timothy 1:7).

He also warned him against letting people despise his youth. (1 Timothy 4:12).

You are who God says you are. Pretending to be less than that is false humility. According to  Colosians 2:18 and 23, false humility leads to idolatry and indulgence in fleshly behaviors. It is false humility that makes people bow down before things created, whether angels or material things.

We must strike a balance. The way to stay on the right path is to not listen to men or demons, but to God.

What does God say about you? Prayerfully find this out in the Word of God.  What does He say you can do? God’s perspective about you is the most accurate; stick to it.

Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit within you. When He cautions you about anything, don’t force it. Don’t let motivational speakers push you into trouble. David was careful to keep himself within the divine scope.

Psalm 131:1 KJV 

 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

When you reach for things too high for you which God has not given you, it never ends well.

Ask the Lord to help you by His Spirit and show you where He wants you to stand, and how He wants you to see yourself in every situation.

Don’t call yourself a slave when God says you are a master, and don’t puff yourself up where He wants you to serve others.

You shall live to please Him!

Have a blessed day.

Your friend,

Deon.

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