Finding Where You Fit In

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.

Roman 12:3

Let me be honest with you. Many people waste a lot of time wishing they were something or someone they aren’t. It’s very difficult for us to think of ourselves with sober judgment... to see and accept ourselves for who we really are. So, many of us think ourselves more highly than we ought to.

Now, the world will tell you that just about the worst thing that can happen is for you to have a poor opinion of yourself. For you to think you aren’t beautiful enough or smart enough or capable enough. But the Bible is much more concerned with helping you see yourself as you really are. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want anyone to think poorly of themselves. But I can’t think of a single Scripture that says, "Don’t think more poorly of yourself than you ought to." But Scripture does say “Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.” The point isn’t to think poorly of yourself, but to see yourself with sober judgment. The goal is to be able to see and acknowledge who and what you really are.

I’m convinced that our lives are far better when we do this... when we see ourselves as we really are… when we get our egos out of the way and think of ourselves with sober judgment. Because only then are we free to be who God made us to be instead of spending so much energy and time trying to convince ourselves and others that we are something we’re not. Denying reality is exhausting work. And it never really works.

I am very rarely (if ever) the best looking or strongest guy in any room that I'm in. I’m kinda' short. I’m very hairy. And I’m sort of weird. God didn’t make me to be a football player. He didn’t make me to be a model. He didn’t make me to pull people out of burning buildings. That’s not what I was designed for. But God gave me a sharp mind and a big heart and a generally likeable personality. God made me to be a pastor, to love people and preach His word. This is what He made me to be.

Let me explain it this way, when you look at a hammer, you can tell it was made to drive nails. A shovel was made to dig a hole. And a garden hose was made to move water. If you try to drive nails with a garden hose or dig a hole with a hammer or use a shovel to move water… it isn’t going to work very well and it’s going to be a VERY frustrating experience. So, look at yourself honestly. Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to. And don’t sell yourself short either. Be honest with yourself. Who are you? And what has God made you to do?