Home  Articles  Site map

"This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?' And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, 'I am not the Christ'" (Jn.1:19,20). The question is what we think about ourselves. We can't hope to impress God or any discerning people by belittling ourselves by using similar words because they can detect our false humility. But what do we think of ourselves in the solitude of our mind—when we think of the things we have done and what others think about us? A most-accomplished but a highly godly man called Paul recognised and owned that he was only a broken earthen vessel in which God had graciously chosen to place some treasure (2Co.4:7). He also realised that one goal that God had in entrusting this treasure with him was that he should faithfully pass it on to other people (2Ti.1:14). He was not to take glory for himself in this, but to make sure that he should not keep anything back to himself when it could profit others (Acts.20:27).

Contrast this attitude with famous people who think they are serving God while they proclaim in subtle and not-so-subtle ways how great they are and what all they have accomplished. What it shows is that, while some of these people have started their life with God at one time, they have moved away from His presence and begun to glory in themselves. It is comparatively easy to talk about the grace of God over us when we are nobodies or just beginning to serve God. King Solomon distinguished himself from most other people when he asked God to give him wisdom to rule over the people, instead of asking things for himself. But as he increased in wealth and accomplishments, and got a name for himself, he strayed away from God towards idols.

John the baptiser knew that he was only a voice supposed to point out the Messiah to the people (Jn.1:23). He also knew that one day the focus would shift from him to Jesus (Jn.3:30). Isn't this our calling when we are called to be voices telling other people about our Lord Jesus Christ? Shouldn't we recognise that it is not about us, but Him? Well, it does matter how we present Jesus and how we represent Him in our life. But ultimately, it does not really matter what people think about us, but only what they think about Jesus.

How sad it will be if God uses us and causes us to bear fruit for Him, and it goes to our head and we begin to think there is something special about us! If we want people to call us by grand titles, even as if we were to be revered, we want people to bow before us or kiss our hand, what are we thinking about ourselves? If we feel disturbed if people don't acknowledge the degrees we have gained, the number of books we have written, the number of people who work under us, the amount of funds we operate, etc., can we say we aren't glorying in ourselves?

The question we need to ask is, what do we privately think of ourselves, or enjoy thinking in our mind?

Tweet