I have been stuck in Romans chapter 12 for a while now, and I wonder if I have misunderstood Paul…
There are a few places in the bible that warn about pride and arrogance.
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
(Proverbs 16:18 NIV)
…and…
”The LORD hates everyone who is arrogant; he will never let them escape punishment.”
(Proverbs 16:5 GNT)
So when Paul kicks off in Chapter 12 with a deep “I Urge You…”, pleading with us to transform our minds and not conform to the ways of the world, I think I might be forgiven for thinking that verse 3 is more of a reference to Proverbs than anything else.
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the Faith God has distributed to each of you.”(Romans 12:3a NIV)
But open up another translation or two, and make sure you read with your eyes AND your brain open!
As so frequently happens, The Passion Translation (although not a study bible) gives us a pretty good hint!
”Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given Faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.”
(Romans 12:3b TPT)
I don’t think Paul is talking about pride and arrogance at all…
I think he is saying: What you have, was given to you, BUT it was given for a purpose!
Use your Faith, and Look…
See how God has empowered you, taught you and skilled you up.
Why do I think this… Because Paul goes on about the Body. How each of us is part of the body, and a body doesn’t function well if parts of it doesn’t function well.
Verse 6:
“’God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts.”
(Romans 12:6a TPT)
In this passage, Paul is asking us to understand our value in the Body of Christ. Not because of our own doing, but by God’s Gifts and God’s Grace
A great surgeon can do amazing things with his or her gifts… but only pretty average things if the supporting body isn’t there…
- Someone to invent the tools and medicines
- Someone to assist and be an extra pair of hands or eyes
but also…
- Someone to clean the operating room
- Someone to prepare the patients
- someone to wash the scrubs and;
- Someone to restock the handwash and sanitizing fluids…
We can be great fisherman, but still go hungry if no-one knows how to cook a fish… or sail the boat… or trade the fish for other foods… or fix the nets.
Paul is saying that A Doctor that is not working as a doctor, or a Doctor too full of pride to work in a slum, is just as helpful as being a doctor when you need a mechanic.
Don’t be Proud and Arrogantly show off your skills… Be generous, live and share your skills to the betterment of all. (They were gifts, after all.) Live your calling where you are, and expend your gifts whenever you can… That is what God wants of you.
So regardless of where you find yourself today… God would have sent us to a place, or a situation or a person where we can come alongside another and use the grace-gifts, skills and abilities we have been blessed with.
The greek word is [Parakaleo] / to encourage… but more…
- To come alongside
- to comfort
- to encourage
- to console
- to strengthen
- to exhort
- to build up
- to stir up Faith
Understand from these 5 verses… You have a specific purpose today and every day, whether you see it or not.
