The importance of humbling ourselves, submitting our egos and pride to God, and embracing the freedom that comes from seeing ourselves in the proper biblical light.
Hey there, Church! Today we're going to jump right into a deep topic that impacts every single one of us - our view of ourselves. Now, let's not kid ourselves, it's a tough one. We're all guilty of letting our egos run the show from time to time, aren't we? But you see, Scripture has a whole lot to say about this.
Let's read from 1 Corinthians 3:21-4:7, 1 Timothy 1:15, and John 3:30:
The necessity of thinking less of self is a principle that is often counterintuitive to our human nature. We live in a world that constantly encourages us to promote ourselves, to strive for personal success, and to place our own needs and desires above those of others. However, the Bible teaches us a different perspective, one that requires us to shift our focus from ourselves to God and others.
A reminder of this: Paul asks, "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Corinthians 4:7) This verse underscores the fact that everything we have, every talent, every opportunity, every blessing, is a gift from God. It's not something we've earned or achieved on our own. Therefore, it's not something we should boast about. Instead, we should be humbly grateful and use these gifts to serve God and others.
Recognizing our own sinfulness and need for a Savior: As Paul states in his letter to Timothy, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst." This is not a statement of self-deprecation, but rather a recognition of the reality of our human condition. We are all sinners in need of God's grace. When we acknowledge this, it humbles us and helps us to see ourselves in the proper light.
Surrendering control: As Tozer pointed out, many of us are still trying to give orders and interfere with God's work within us. We want to be in charge, to dictate our own paths. But the Christian journey is about surrendering our will to God's will. It's about letting go of our own plans and desires and trusting God to lead us. This requires us to think less of ourselves and more of God.
Decreasing so that Christ can increase in us: This means letting go of our own egos and pride and allowing Christ to take the central place in our lives. It's about making room for Christ to work in us and through us, to shape us into the people He wants us to be.
It’s liberating: It frees us from the pressure to be something we're not. It frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's love or approval, because we understand that His love for us is unconditional and His approval is based on Christ's righteousness, not our own efforts. It also frees us from the trap of comparison and competition, because we understand that our worth is not based on what we have or what we do, but on who we are in Christ.
Not about denying our worth or value: On the contrary, it's about understanding our true worth and value in Christ. It's about recognizing that we are loved, accepted, and valued by God, not because of what we do, but because of who we are in Him. This understanding leads us to a place of humble confidence, where we can serve God and others with joy and gratitude, without the need for recognition or applause.
The Bible is replete with passages that warn against pride and encourage humility ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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