Are We as Good as We Think?

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

I have a really good preacher-friend who tells the story on himself about golfing with another preacher. My friend was a better than average golfer and extremely competitive. One day he was not playing very well and was yelling at himself on the course after every shot. His golfing partner, catching my friend in a calmer moment, asked him, “Do you know why you get so mad playing golf?” My friend shot him a quick glance and grumbled, “No. Why?” His partner replied, “You are not as good as you think you are.”

I laugh every time I think about that story. Yet the reality is there are some in the kingdom of God that take themselves way too seriously – thinking they are better than what they really are. The Scriptures are too numerous to list that warn us against over-estimating our abilities and talents (Galatians 6:3; Romans 12:16; Philippians 2:3-5, et. al.). Who can doubt Peter “over-sold” his faith to his own shame, frustration and humiliation? (Luke 23:31-34) So, even we are warned, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Corinthians 10:12)

We must take God seriously and not ourselves in worship. Who can doubt that some in Corinth had over-estimated their talents (taken themselves way too seriously) to the disruption of the assembly? The apostle chides them for such presumptuousness in their worship (I Corinthians 14:36-40). Those who over-estimate their abilities are often frustrated in their repeated attempts to do what they desire to do but lack the talent to do. It is equally frustrating, if not disruptive to the congregation’s effort to worship. Too often, those who overestimate their abilities assume that a leading role in our worship (i.e. giving a talk, leading the prayer or the singing, etc.) is about fulfilling their own desires. When that occurs, one has taken himself too seriously.

To give God the glory and let our light shine in worship we must not only offer the best but, we must humbly recognize our limits. May God give us the grace to make humility our first priority in worship that we might take Him more seriously. Only then can our efforts conform to our desire to giving Him our best.