This is the weekly email devotional of WhoUWith? Ministries
(2005)
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"Half of the harm that is done in this
world is due to people who want to feel important. They do not mean to do harm.
They are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves." -T.S.
Eliot
I'm glad that I don't
struggle with self-absorption. No really, I don't. I mean as long as everything
goes my way I'm perfectly happy with others getting the leftovers. Heck, my
leftovers are better than most folk's main courses!
Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I'm glad that I'm
not self-absorbed. People who think so highly of themselves are pathetic. It is
a shame they can't be more like me!
What does God's Word
say?:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has
given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members
do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:3-5
Is there any member of your body that you could
do without? Just for a day. Let's lose the left hand for 24 hours, or maybe an
ear. What did you say? I'm having trouble hearing you. Why not a thumb? Be
careful with that cup of coffee! No, the truth is none of us are willing to
give up a perfectly functioning member of our body, even for a
day.
In the same way, I have seen
this principle of teamwork lived out in my experiences with several ministry,
and sports, teams over the past 14 years. The successful one's understood that
every person on the team has a role, from the star to the red-shirt on the
bench. Everyone is special and no one is more important than anyone
else.
Notice in Romans, it doesn't
say it is wrong to think well of yourself. It just says, "not to think of
yourself more highly than you ought". We should have confidence in the
abilities God has given each of us and we should use them to the highest level
possible. But, not at the expense of those around us...our family, friends,
teammates, etc.
I hope this will
help you self-absorbed folks out there. I'm praying for you. And who better to
be praying for your pridefulness, than someone as humble me!!! Seriously, know
that God has given each of us different gifts and abilities. It is up to us to
use them, not abuse them! Just a thought! www.whouwith.com
Just a
thought!
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