False Humility

"No you're not, you're great!"

Ephesians 3:1-13

Reference: v.8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ (TNIV Bible)

Explore:  I really struggle with false humility.  Most people can pick it a mile away.  This often occurs when someone, who is quite capable with a particular skill, says they are hopeless just so everyone will turn to them and say, "No you're not, you're great!"  This false humility can creep into any area of life, particularly with people who are always searching for affirmation. 

Application:  There are a number of times when the Apostle Paul speaks of how lowly he is.  He says in Philippians that his study and vast knowledge is rubbish and here in Ephesians we hear him say that he is ‘less than the least of all'.  We could quite easily think that this is false humility because let's face it, if we were to compare our own lives to Paul's then I know that I would certainly fall short.  However we don't need to compare ourselves to Paul or to anyone else.  The only person we present ourselves to is God, and when we do that we will fall short every time!  The great thing however is that God gave His Son Jesus to make up the difference.  While we will never be good enough Jesus has made up for where we lack.  We don't deserve it, it's offered to us through grace.

Prayer:  Lord, compared to You we all fall short.  May we not look down on ourselves or pout with false humility but celebrate Your grace as you make up the distance for us.  Amen.

In which areas of your life do you feel you fall short?  How does Jesus fill in the gap?

 

Ephesians