The estimation of value

 Romans 12:3

3 For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. AMPC

In Romans 3, Paul admonishes us to not become prideful and think more of ourselves than we ought to, or have an exaggerated opinion of our own importance.  He admonishes us to remain humble and rightly estimate our own value.  Getting that right is sometimes a challenge for us.  All too often we tend to either undervalue ourselves or overvalue ourselves.  When we understand though, that we are part of a body (as he will explain to us in the rest of this chapter), we start to understand that we are all valuable.  Which part of your body has no value to you?  Well, just wait until that part is hurting or does not function the way it should anymore and then we are quick to understand the importance or value of it.  It's like that with us as human beings too.  We are all valuable - but not more valuable than your neighbour.  Status and accolades - or the lack thereof - does not give us more, or less, value in the eyes of God.  

One application of this in the context of this chapter would be to recognize that others have gifts I do not have and vice versa.  I therefore need to give them the opportunity to share their gifts with me, and I need to share my gifts with them.  In this way the body of Christ will be whole and healthy, giving and receiving from each other.    

Point to ponder

Let us ask the Lord this week to show us where there is distortion in how much, or how little, we think of ourselves.  Let us ask Him to give us a right estimation of the value we - and others - have for Him in His Kingdom.  

Lauren Daigle "You say"