"For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." Romans 12:3 NASB
I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse to think on things as much as I do. I constantly evaluate situations or reevaluate to see if I didn't do something quite well enough. In my former work experience I was considered one of the top people in presenting continuous improvement ideas. In any work that I do I learn it as taught then can't help myself in trying to improve the process.
Thinking...it was an interesting Bible Study this last Saturday night. The speaker from the video pointed out just how many times the word think was used in verse 3 alone.
I took it upon myself this morning to take a look at verse 3 in the original language. For sure the NASB interpretation of it is correct. It was interesting as well that the message Sunday went to 1 Corinthians 12, a bit more from Paul on the workings of the body.
Several denominations today put way too much emphasis on aspects of the body, ironically, the same as why the chapters we read were written. They emphasize things like speaking in tongues or other manifestations of God. Yet they miss out on the last verse of 1 Corinthians 12. "But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way."
We are indeed given special God bestowed abilities upon coming to Christ as given by the Spirit. The important thing is to identify what you were given and to utilize it as the Spirit sees fit. Not to attempt to claim gifts that aren't yours. To not be doing the work of a prophet if you aren't one. To not be attempting to speak in tongues if another language isn't what God's needing. In fact the speaking in tongues was to be done away with. It wouldn't be necessary as it was at the beginning of the Church.
I have written on other occasions of the parable of the talents, of that which we have been entrusted with being used properly in service to God because we will indeed give an account of how we did use what we were given. We won't be judged on sin because our sins were forgiven and remembered no more.
We read in 1 Corinthians 12 of the thoughts that the parts ought to nurture in thinking of their part of the body in relation to the other parts. Accepting who you are in Christ and what it is you were meant to be doing is your identity.
I admit that I other think a lot. It takes me time, especially in social situations, to digest what some don't consider or think about. I am not used to social situations involving some kinds of people. I indeed am an introvert. I need to be comfortable before relaxing in social settings. Until then I keep thinking about everything in that environment.
I probably caused more than a few gray hairs at the Church we now attend in seeking to have a more concrete idea of my Spiritual Gifts. To be honest they brought it up as part of the next steps to take after becoming members. To discover where it is you have been gifted and to serve there. I wanted to be sure and to be honest I don't think like most people. Some tests taken wanted answers that were on a scale of 1 to 5. The questions asked, in my mind-set were only seen as yes or no. Which caused problems in determining what the evaluation part was covering.
I look at Colossians 3:23-24 as not just about a work ethic. "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.". I want to be as sure as I can be that I am doing what it is God wants me to be doing. I am a worker in His fields. All Christians are workers in His fields. Some are watering, some are weeding, some are pruning. Some are harvesting. We should be doing what it is we have been chosen to be doing. Not what the world thinks we should be doing, not what others think we should be doing, and especially not what we think we should be doing. What the Spirit says is what it is we should be doing.
We indeed may find it difficult but it should indeed still be on us to do our best at it. We may see success as the world defines success or we may not.
As the Scriptures say may all that we do be for the glory of God.
I often probably irritate some Godly men that I speak with concerning my life's direction. But that is part of their role in the body to help people like me. Seeking Godly counsel is Biblical. Proverbs speaks to this.
Thinking on the right things is sometimes a struggle but the results are worth it. I shared Saturday night that my hope is to be found doing what it is that God's given me to be doing. I certainly and absolutely do not want to be that servant that buried the talents given to him and did nothing with it until his master returned.
Consider your ways the Bible says. Do you? Do you consider how it is you who are in Christ Jesus are to be serving? Are you going to the Church you are supposed to be? Are you intentional on learning more about Jesus? Are you thinking about the right things?
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