Thinking about Self Less

Transformation and renewal create a different way of living. Paul wrote to the church in Rome about transformation and renewal.

. . . 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 ESV

He goes on to write about how that attitude changes the way life is lived.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:9-10 ESV

Thinking more highly of oneself, wanting others to think more highly of us, thinking lower of others and trying to get other people to think lower of someone else causes immeasurable human suffering, pain and division. The results of this kind of thinking might include jealousy, gossip, slander, bullying, lying, rejection, deception, manipulation, and control. All of these actions are contrary to Paul's admonition to love genuinely, hold fast to what is good, love with affection and to outdo each other in showing honor.

Pastor Rick Warren has described humility as “Not thinking less of self, but instead thinking of self less.” The cause of almost all human ills is selfishness - thinking too often about self. The Bible calls thinking too often about self and the actions that follow selfishness.

Clear back to Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel until this morning, the root of human suffering is thinking too much about self. Each of us need our thinking transformed and renewed so we think less about self, and when we do think about self our judgment is 'sober' or honest.

Jesus, change our thinking!