The Measure Of A Person
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by Terry Rush
None of us have it all together. While this is casually nodded as true, it is perpetual in our nature to believe that (my)self is the exception…that our personal perspective and viewpoint is…well, it’s God’s as well. In other words, we each tend to believe that what we think is correct or else we wouldn’t have believed it in the first place.
Enter the need for humility.
No one has it all together. We each possess strengths coupled with immediate and embarrassing frailties. Humility has its bold significance. Living in comparison in order to come out ahead of others…any and all others…is our leading mistake.
Consider II Corinthians 10. “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”
“But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within our measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.”
This phraseology by the apostle is the beauty of church; of life itself. Each is gifted while, simultaneously, boldly lacking. Therefore, there is need for others and their gifts so that as a part of the body of Christ, we can function in our greatest capacity; interdependent upon one another…all dependent upon God.
Not one person is the “know-it-all”. Oh…I once believed I did. Arrogant deluxe, huh? Embarrassing to admit. But…I learned. I learned through failure, through study, through failure, through prayer, through failure and then through more failure…due to? Inadequacy of being self-sufficient in my well manicured faith.
Therefore, do what you can to assert yourself within the small territory in which you are gifted for we all need you. But too, keep on your front burner that a great portion of what God and the church needs from us…we don’t have unless we humble ourselves and begin to arise into the vast region of appreciation and love for all who are around us.
Indeed, you have a measure of God’s glory flowing from within. Do what you can to avoid taking on the ego spirit that we are better than others for we are not… ever. We are not better at church, at parenting, at laboring, at resting, at learning, at concluding, at…. and our lists flow… and grow.
We can’t get around this one my friend. “Being better than” is the name of our inner-world order…and it’s a lie. May we live in gratitude that, yes even, others have better insight than we possess singularly. No one is an island of self-serving affirmation.
All are dependent upon one another in the Spirit of Christ.
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