Are you humble or arrogant? We should all be humble, but lets be real. There are times when we all want to think we are more important than really are. Part of it is inherent in who we are as humans, but part of it is taught. In today’s world, if you are not perceived as being the best, then there is a good chance you will be laid off.
Romans 12:3-13 New International Version (NIV)
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3 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. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 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; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 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.
Love in Action
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
We should be thinking of others and serving them, but most are taught to think of yourself first. I know growing up I was whether my parents meant to or not. I remember my mom saying what about me a lot or she put her own needs above others that may be less fortunate. Part of it was how she grew up, poor and during the end of the depression where her parents did the exact same things.
Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version (NIV)
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
There is a lot of meaning in the above verses, but after reading Romans 12:3-13, it took on a whole other meaning for me. Now I could mean, stop worrying about yourself, God will provide. Instead start thinking of others and how you can help them come to Christ through humbling yourself to be a servant. Remember Christ came to serve.
Mark 10:45 New International Version (NIV)
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
I pray that if you are thinking of yourself, that you will humble yourself enough to think of and serve others. I pray that you realize God will provide for you as He desires. I also pray that whatever gifts God has given you, that you use them to serve others. In Jesus name I pray for this, Amen.