THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF SELF

Romans 12:3

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   In Romans 12, Paul begins the chapter talking about relationships.

1.    He begins in verse 1 discussing our relationship with God (Rom. 12:1).

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

2.    In the next verse, he notes our relationship to the world (Rom. 12:2).

 

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

 

3.    Then he reaches verse three.  Now the revelation involves a Christian’s relationship with himself (Rom. 12:3).

 

For I say, through the grace give unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

B.   We are going to look at this third verse in detail in this study.  The title of our lesson is:  “The Proper Perspective of Self.”

 

I.             PAUL’S AUTHORITY:  For I say, through the grace given unto me…

 

A.   Paul addressed the Romans at this time “through the grace given unto” him.

 

B.   Grace is divine help or assistance.  Paul had received the grace, the assistance, of God in numerous ways.

1.    Paul was saved by the grace of God (Rom. 3:24).

 

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

 

2.    God’s grace had placed Paul into his apostolic office (Rom. 1:5).

 

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.

 

3.    God’s grace enabled Paul to be inspired and speak forth the message of salvation (Eph. 3:8).

 

Unto me, whom am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ.

 

4.    NOTE:  Paul was extremely grateful for the abundance of grace he had received from God (1 Tim. 1:12-14).

 

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:  but I obtain mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

C.   The grace of God enabled Paul to speak to the Romans with a message that was both divine and authoritative. 

 

II.           PAUL’S AUDIENCE:  …to every man that is among you…

 

A.   Paul’s words were not addressed to one or two members of the Roman church.

 

B.   His message was addressed to everyone.

1.    Some might have been innocent of this behavior but stood in need of a simple reminder.

2.    Some might have been on the verge of engaging in behavior he was about to address.

3.    Some might have been actually involved in the behavior Paul describes.

4.    Some might be innocent of the act, but may have known others who stood in need of Paul’s words.

 

C.   LESSON:  If a lesson is from God’s Word, it is for all.

 

III.         PAUL’S APPEAL: 

 

A.   The Prohibition:  …not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…

1.    What Paul is saying:

a.    Do not overestimate self.

b.    Do not over-think yourself.

c.    Do not be proud and haughty about your knowledge or talents.

2.    There are many things that can cause us to think of ourselves more highly than we ought:  position, occupation, wealth, knowledge, age, gender, race, etc.

3.    Example:  The rich man of Luke 16:19

 

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.

 

a.    Why wouldn’t the rich man provide the crumbs that fell from his table to the poor beggar Lazarus?

b.    We often think that we are too good to concern ourselves with those types of people.

 

B.   The Principle:  …but to think soberly…

1.    Soberly

a.    Strong (4993):  to be of sound mind, sane, moderate

b.    Thayer:  sound mind, to exercise self-control

c.    Vine:  to be of sound mind

d.    The same Greek word is translated “temperate” (Tit. 2:2) and “discreet” (Tit. 2:5).

2.    Instead of proud and arrogant, we are humble, moderate, and prudent.

3.    Example:  The centurion who desired for his servant to be healed (Matt. 8:7-9).

 

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.  The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof:  but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me:  and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

 

a.    He was not worthy of having Jesus in his house.

b.    He recognized his authority in a proper way.  This caused him to recognize and appreciate the authority of Jesus Christ.

 

IV.         PAUL’S AFFIRMATION:  …according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith

 

A.   Paul uses an interesting phrase here:  “the measure of faith.”

1.    Every Christian has faith.

2.    There are various ways of measuring one’s faith.

a.    The Bible speaks of “little faith” (Matt. 6:30) and “great faith” (Matt. 8:10).

b.    When it comes to things like knowledge, abilities, and riches, there are different measures of faith.

1)    Some can give a few dollars; others can give thousands.

2)    Some preachers are good at extemporaneous preaching, others must take plenty of time to prepare their lessons.

3)    Some can decorate simply; others turn rooms into a production.

c.    These measures of faith create differences between individuals.

d.    Those with greater measures of faith are often the ones who think more highly of themselves than they ought to think.  They lift themselves up over their brothers and sisters who have less measures of faith.

 

B.   How do we remain humble regarding our measures of faith?  We must remember who gave us our measure of faith.

1.    According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

2.    We learn this lesson in The Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-15).

 

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

 

a.    There was a distinct difference between each of the servants.

b.    Questions:

1)    How was the five-talent man to act toward the two and one-talent men?

2)    How was the two-talent man to act toward the one talent man?

c.    NOTE:  This could really change when the men doubled their talents. 

1)    Five became ten.

2)    Two became four.

3)    The one could have become two.

4)    The difference between them would be much greater.

d.    Each one of the servants needed to remember that it was their lord who delivered unto them his goods.  Their talents were gifts from God.

3.    Barnes:  “This act, that God has given it, will be itself one of the most effectual promoters of humility and right feeling. People commonly regard the objects on which they pride themselves as things of their own creation, or as depending on themselves. But let an object be regarded as the gift of God, and it ceases to excite pride, and the feeling is at once changed into gratitude. He, therefore, who regards God as the source of all blessings, and he only, will be an humble man” (e-sword).

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   How Christians think of themselves can create many problems in the church.

1.    I am smarter than others.

I can plan better than others.

I can teacher better than others.

I have more money than others.

I have more family here than others.

I have been here longer than others.

2.    Thoughts like this can cause us to elevate ourselves over our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

B.   Paul counsels us not to think like this.  One gave this summary of Paul’s admonition:  “Not to be high-minded above what we ought to be minded, but to be minded unto being sober minded.”

 

C.   One of the best ways of conquering our pride in these areas is to remember that it was God who blessed us with our measures of faith. 

1.    In the words of the psalmist:  “It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves” (Ps. 100:3).

2.    With that in mind, let’s use our abilities to exalt the Lord’s cause.  Let’s not use them to elevate ourselves over others.