Pride

Early on in life I learned never to say (or even think!) that I'm gifted at this or talented at that, because that would be pride—or would surely lead to it. So to block the passage to pride, it was fashionable to only say and think lowly thoughts about oneself, and thus be humble. Only proud people even mentioned that they were gifted in some way. Yuck!

The prophet Samuel pointed out to King Saul that he had a low image of himself when he said, " . . . you were little in your own eyes . . ."

But putting yourself down that way is really just pride in disguise. And worse than that, it is dissing the image of God in whose likeness every one of us has been made.

"We are never, never so much in danger of being proud as when we think we are humble." Charles Spurgeon

Then there came a time when we were told that we must discover our God-given gifts and not only that, but to let others know about them. Some folks kind of went a bit overboard, and it became fashionable for people to go around proclaiming themselves to be gifted as prophets or bishops or apostles—and other things that they may or may not have been. But too often, that was just plain old pride.

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:2)

So there was a swing from one kind of pride to another . . . from inferior—I'm just a worm—pride, to arrogant—look at me—pride. But is there some middle ground where followers of Jesus can comfortably and humbly express who they are and what gifts God has created them to live in?

I'm glad you asked . . .

As Paul, under the direction of the Holy Spirit clearly writes . . . Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Rom 12:3) So don't think 'more highly than you ought,' but think 'with sober judgment—mixed with faith.'

Paul goes on to list seven gifts, one or more of which every human being is conceived with. Yes, from conception, from the moment you were 'woven in your mother's womb,' God knew your strong gifts (as well as the ones you would need to work on!)

While it's good to know what we are, it's also good to know what we aren't! It's so easy to covet the gifting that we admire in someone else . . . for example if God has made a person strong in mercy and compassion, to strongly desire (or even covet) the gift of leadership, could be quite wrong.

I ran into this very issue early on in my time with YWAM. Here's a little excerpt from my book, "The Last Thing I'd Ever Do!" Click on Book →

I received a letter from Bernie Ogilvy, then the director of our mission in New Zealand. He invited me to teach in a DTS that he would be leading. My head swelled a bit at the offer. Though I had never taught in any kind of school before, I accepted the invitation and began preparing a series of messages. I felt certain that the launching of my international teaching ministry had arrived.

God was very gracious to the students despite my stumbling attempts at teaching. I think that God must have bypassed my efforts and taught the young people directly. However, I was sufficiently encouraged to believe that the launching of my new ministry was a success and that now all I had to do was wait for the invitations to pour in. After I returned home, I waited.

And waited. . .

But nothing came. I had no idea how much I had come to covet such a position. Gradually, I realized that not only were my motives all wrong, but teaching is nowhere near my main ministry gift. But at that moment I thought I was God's gift to the vocation.

It was a hard lesson for me to learn, made doubly hard when Donna emerged as the teacher in the family!

May I suggest that if you haven't already done so, that it's equally important to discover what you're NOT while you're discovering what you ARE.

Every Blessing,

Peter Jordan