Why Should We Use Sound Judgment to Consider Our Place in the Body of Christ? – Rom. 12:3
As Americans we can be very competitive and outspoken about our success. One enduring characteristics about Americans is our freedom to speak our mind as given to us by the first amendment. We love our personal liberty and really do not like to be bossed around or told what to do. In every congregation prideful attitudes can threaten to disrupt the unity of the body of Christ. For this reason Paul cautions the Christians in Rome about the temptation to think too highly of themselves at the expense of mutual consideration. Let us examine some of the reasons why we should use sound judgment in accordance with the faith to consider our individual place in the body of Christ?
1. Sound judgment is necessary to help each of us avoid glorying in our own importance. We are all prone to think more of ourselves than others because of our sinful and selfish nature. Paul knew that people are always apt to overlook their own faults. Prideful people magnify the specks in their eyes of their brothers while forgetting to remember the logs in their own eyes. Prideful people are often overly critical people whose arrogant attitude causes friction, vexation and disunity. When our spiritual gifts makes us think of ourselves more highly than we should, we get puffed up with a false sense of self-glorification that stifles harmony. Every temperament, gift and talent is a gift from God and should not be used as a badge of personal achievement. Use wise discernment as you consider your place in relationship to the greater body of Christ.
2. Sound judgment is necessary in order to exercise modesty in all things. Modest people are loath to think of themselves to highly because they know that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling. Paul wrote to the proud Corinthians, “What do you have that you did not receive?” The best people in our church are still sinners that have been saved by God’s marvelous grace. Our salvation, redemption and forgiveness give us our freedom by the Creator who has given us the gift of life. Sound judgment is necessary to help us remember that modesty is befitting every individual part of the body of Christ.
3. Sound judgment is necessary in order to maintain good relations with other Christians. Experts tell us that 85% of the success of people in the work place is directly related to their interpersonal relationships. Bad attitude hinder good relationships. Some of the most gifted people in the world struggle to get along with people because they are unwilling to apply energy into the maintaining of healthy interpersonal relationships. Ask the Lord to give you more love for others by not looking out for your own interests but also for the interests of others. Follow the good example that was in Christ Jesus – the true model of a servant.
4. Sound judgment is necessary in order to maintain a good relationship with God. The Bible says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (I Pet. 5:5,6) Not only do we need to show a submissive attitude to God but also to the elders in the body of Christ in order to receive blessings from God. A false humility is often seen in some leaders who give undue depreciation about themselves and their abilities. These people have a conviction that they are of little importance and are secretly crying out for confirmation when they should get their affirmation from God. People who have a poor self-image tend to neglect the use of their gifts because they lack a sense of confidence in what God has done in and for them. Learn to get your sense of worth from the Lord instead of growing dependent on others to affirm, compliment or express appreciation for your ministry.
5. Sound judgment is necessary to treat others kindly and respectfully because we are dependent on other members of the body of Christ for our spiritual health. Americans are individualists and often do not like to admit that they need help from others. But American Christians have to exercise extra discipline to demonstrate mutual inter-dependence for their own mutual edification. Paul wrote, “The eye cannot say to the hand, I don’t’ need you! And the head cannot say to the feet, I don’t need you. On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” (I Cor. 12:21) Never is this so apparent as when the body of Christ starts to experience divisions. Paul was very aware of how the Corinthian church was sharply divided because they failed to exercise sound judgment over people’s gifts, positions and responsibilities. The Corinthians became so jealous and envious of their gifts that Paul was moved to sandwich the great love chapter of I Corinthians 13 in between two whole chapters on the use of spiritual gifts. Ask how you can be kinder and more respectful to those around you.
6. Sound judgment is necessary so that we do not run ahead of God or fall behind Christ’s plan for our life. Many Christians are stressed out or overworked because they fail to exercise sound judgment. People who think too highly of themselves tend to make a lot of mistakes because they are led more by the flesh than the Spirit. It is the tendency for some people to try to take on the responsibilities of others who may not get things done as quickly as they like. Others neglect their duties because they fail to take a good inventory of their own spiritual gifts and responsibilities. People who fall behind the footsteps of Jesus are guilty of becoming too complacent about their responsibilities to serve one another. A Christian who is progressing in their spiritual maturity will be given wisdom about a balanced personal and ministry maturity growth plan. Remember that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man since He was perfectly balance – we should follow His fine example.
7. Sound judgment is necessary to offer appreciation to people who deserve credit for their ministries. It is a sign of a healthy church that gives proper credit to all the serving members of its body. Take time to thank people who have made contributions in all aspects of your church’s ministry. People who are appreciated tend to feel more motivated to serve, to give and to work in harmony with others who they may have overlooked. No person is more important than another in the body of Christ and Sundays where workers are recognized and appreciated confirms the fact that your church is working in mutual appreciation of each person and their contributions. The health of the body of Christ is often enhanced when we show appreciation, credit and recognition to those who deserve public acclaim.
8. Sound judgment is necessary or we will leave most of the business of the church up to the paid professionals. The ministry of the body of Christ is not to be exclusively done by those who are in paid positions. In 312 A.D. an artificial division of labor happened between the clergy and the laity that has made most people passive rather than active in their view of church ministries. Wherever a spiritual gift is given there is a responsibility for service to the body of Christ. Ask God how He wants you to use your gifts, abilities and resources for service to the body of Christ. Cooperate for the greater end than what you can do by your own individualistic efforts. Sound judgment requires each of us to consider how other people’s gifts and abilities can synergistically work with our own for the maximization of the advancement of Christ and His kingdom priority purposes.
Illustration – A.C. Green is a good example of one who uses sound judgment about his place in the body of Christ. A.C. Green, a sixteen-year veteran of the National Basketball Association formed the A.C. Green Foundation for Youth to help at-risk youth recognize and achieve their full potential. After trusting Christ as his Savior and Lord Green wanted to show people what the power of God could do for a person. He emphasizes building self-esteem, integrity and character in young people; the principles are the heart of Green’s abstinence curriculum “I’ve Got the Power (currently being implemented in more than 100 schools and organizations nationwide). They are also covered in the three camps that Green runs each summer in Portland, Los Angeles and Phoenix. More than 5000 kids between the ages of 10 and 15 have participated. Green writes in his book, Victory: The Principles of Championship Living, “God expects us to reproduce in others what we have learned. Everything goes back to being accountable to God and to others.” (Christian Reader, p. 23 Jan-Feb 2002) Whatever gift, talent or resource God has given you He expects you to use it using sound judgment for His purposes. Why not ask Him to help you? He loves to answer prayer in ways that demonstrate His power and love.
