Highly Thought or Highly Sought

This is part 2 in a study of Romans 12. Begin with part 1: Sacrificial Lifestyle.

What do these people have in common: Jim Bakker, Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods, and Jane Fonda? They all were at the top of their game and thought of themselves as untouchables when their mistakes in judgment brought them tumbling down. Proverbs describes it as pride. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)

Many people think of pride as a danger for Type A people, but it is something that can easily dig into the hearts and souls of anyone. I believe that everyone must fight off the grasping tendrils of pride. Most people are competitive in nature and the sin or pride takes root in our accomplishments. Looking better or dressing better than others, having a nicer home or car than others, having more awards or trophies, etc. Even in churches we see pride slip in as pastors and church leaders begin to take the credit for the increased attendance or giving. Pride can even find a foothold in something as simple as your color of hair or in the amount of hair or lack thereof.

Paul understood this when he transitioned from urging God’s people to offer themselves to God and he began to focus on how we then should live: “For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3, ESV).

Paul begins by explaining that he shares the following because of the grace that has been given to him. He does not instruct the Romans as one who stands above them, but as one who is a servant to all just as he explained in his letter to the church in Ephesus: “Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8, NIV). The knowledge that Paul needed and the instructions that he was about to share came about because of his willingness to become the servant that God called him to become. Paul was speaking from his own training, knowledge, and experience, but it was through God’s calling that he was directed to teach the Romans.

My calling from God has led me to spend most of my life around creative people. I feel comfortable around them. They know how to speak in my language. They encourage me and challenge me, and sometimes they frustrate me. In other words: they are my family. I feel most comfortable when I speak to the hearts of other creative people because I have lived and experienced their world personally.

Musicians, artists, actors, and their like have a tendency to be at one extreme or the other when it comes to their own personal self worth. To be successful in creative arts, a person must have the confidence that they are able to be the best at what they are doing. This confidence often feeds their egos and can create what we call a “Prima Donna” in the music world.

The attitude of a Prima Donna starts when an individual begins to believe that they are the best, and often only, option that others have for a specific role or position. The knowledge that others prize them often leads them to desire special perks and privileges. I have known many Prima Donnas within the confines of church ministries, and not just music ministry. They usually are not as skilled or competent as they think, but they often hold a ministry hostage because they are the only person willing or able to serve in a particular ministry area. It is not unusual for a Prima Donna to say something like: “I do not have to put up with this” or “If you don’t agree then I will just quit.”

As much negativity as there is surrounding the term Prima Donna, God needs people who are confident enough in their abilities to be successful in the ministries for which they are called. A soloist that has doubts about their ability to sing in front of an audience will most likely succumb to stage fright: sounding timid, pitchy, stiff, forgetting words, or even freeze completely. Creative people in the performance arts must have confidence in their ability. They must be competent performers. As annoying as a Prima Donna can be, a Doubting Thomas is much worse in performing arts ministries.

Many people are so afraid of sounding prideful that they sink into low self-esteem believing that they are being humble. Moses is the perfect biblical example of one who did not think highly of himself. In fact, Moses thought so little of his own abilities that he did not even believe he could be used as God’s spokesman.

• But Moses said to God, ‘Whom am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the child of Israel out of Egypt?’” (Exodus 3:11, ESV)
• Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” (Exodus 4:1, ESV)
• But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” (Exodus 4:10, ESV)

God became angry with Moses because of his low self-esteem. God chose instead to call Aaron, the brother of Moses, to become the spokesman of God Almighty rather than give Moses that prized position. God would not have called Moses to do something unless He knew Moses could do it. Moses was too busy looking at his own inabilities that he failed to believe that God had the power to equip him for the calling. When we tell God that we cannot accept His call because we are not trained or comfortable for a specific ministry, then we are telling God that we do not have enough faith in His abilities.

Paul called on the people of God to look at themselves through the eyes of God, rather than through their own eyes. The “sober judgment” indicates that they should not be so drunk with their own abilities that they cannot see the truth. The last part of the verse, “In accordance with the measure of faith God has given you,” reminds us that we are to hold fast to our faith in God to work in us and through us. We are each highly sought by God to become His servants, not because of what we can do, but because of what He can do through us.

Continue with part 3: Chosen to Act