Thursday, July 17th
Read: Galatians 6:3-6
Self-evaluations are not usually very pleasant. Generally, it seems that people are naturally selfish. However, when it comes down to the actual thoughts that we have about ourselves, it is easy to become overly critical and self depreciating. We compare ourselves to our favorite singers, actors, or people in magazines. We criticize who we are even though God made each of us, “in the image of God” (Gen 1:27). While we are all human, we are all very unique. Everyone has fingers and they all take a similar shape, yet no one has the same fingerprints, not even identical twins. When we were created, God made us individuals, unlike anything He has ever created before, or ever will again. God purposely made us unique, and yet we habitually compare ourselves to everything we see, both positively and negatively. In verse four Paul writes, “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.” The verse makes it clear that we should not compare ourselves to others, but rather test our own actions. For example— if two children hit each other, does it matter which child hit the other first? In both cases a hurt was committed; both of them hurt the other. We could compare the two and say that “Child A” started it, making it sound worse. But “Child B” also hit someone, is there a difference? We can only find a difference by comparing the two.
It is so easy to deceive ourselves into believing things about ourselves that are not true. We can believe that we are doing well by comparing ourselves to someone who is doing much worse, and rationally believe that we must be okay in comparison. In verse three it says, “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” However, while we can engage in self deception, we can never deceive God. He knows our hearts, and He can see through the lies and walls that we build up around ourselves. We need to learn to look at ourselves through God’s eyes, and not through the web of lies we build around us. This sentiment is mirrored in Romans 12:3— “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.” We need to know who we are in Christ, how God sees us, and slough off the way the world sees us, along with our judgmental and comparative nature.
In verse 6 it says that “anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.” One of the first questions you may have when reading this is if the instructor is God or whether it is a person who is teaching you. In fact it may not even matter, because we should share all good things with everyone, and when we share with one of Gods people, by extension, we are sharing with God, and he will get the benefit of those good things. It is easy to take pride in our accomplishments and to keep the spoils of those accomplishments to ourselves. However, what God wants is for us pride when it is due and to share the good things with those who help instruct us.
Process:
– In what way does the way you see yourself hold you back from fulfilling what God asks of you? Ask God to show you how He sees you.
Make a list of what He reveals, or draw a picture. Look at it daily. Ask God to help you align your view of yourself to His.
-In what ways can you have pride according to these verses?
Who do you think of as an instructor? God, your youth pastor, maybe a friend? In some way it seems as though when we become more apart of the community of God the term instructor can become vague, as our walk is assisted by those around us. Do you think it is appropriate to think of the body of Christ as an instructor? If not, why? If so, how can you share the good things with it?