Bible Passage: “I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.” (Romans 12:3)
Scripture Reading: Romans 12:3-7; Luke 18:9-14
The starting point of pride is this belief:
“I know I am better than… (fill in the blank here).”
This mindset is pervasive in men. We may not say those words out loud, but sometimes, our actions speak louder than words.
You can see it in how you treat your co-workers, people you are in a Bible study with, or even how you treat your wife, parents, or children.
If you want to be a humble man, the first habit you need to develop is the habit of honesty. You need to be honest about your sin and your limitations.
In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable for people who have a lot of confidence in themselves.
A Pharisee and tax collector are going to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee starts his prayer with, “God, thank You that I’m not like that other guy. After all, look at all the good things I’m doing with my life.”
The tax collector starts his prayer by being honest about his sin and begging God for mercy.
Which one does God reward?
Having the right view of your need for God’s mercy will impact how you view the people around you. You will see that you are no better than any other person. We are all on equal ground when we stand before the holy God.
In Romans 12, Paul is speaking to the Roman church and reminds everyone that all spiritual gifts are a grace from God. In other words, every ability you have is not because you have worked hard for it; rather, God has freely given you that ability.
However, He has not given you every ability. You have limitations. That’s Paul’s point when he says in verse 3, “Don’t think of yourself more highly than you should.”
Proud men try to do everything, but humble men are honest with their limitations.
When you understand that God has only given you certain abilities, you become humble because you will live as an interdependent human being. We live in a hyper-individualized culture, but individualism contradicts what God is teaching us.
We all have limitations, and we all need each other to offset them.
Prayer: Father, show me where I act like I’m better than I am. Help me be honest about my sin and my limitations, and help me lean on others who are strong in ways I am not. Amen.
Reflection: Today, practice honesty about your sin and your limitations when you pray, plan your calendar, and interact with others.
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