Flawed Pedestal

“For I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly. . .” (Romans 12:3)

Upon arriving at her new church, the young girl, with great confidence and pride, announced to the greeters at the door, “I can do anything I want because my grandpa is the preacher.” Thankfully, someone was there to reveal the truth and gently remove the little girl from her pedestal before it crashed.

Being children of God, joint-heirs with His Son, Jesus, does make us “a special people,” but not better than our neighbor. It is not unusual for children to have misguided conceptions and excuse them for such statements as the little girl. But what about adults? We know better than to expect such treatment, yet, sadly, some grown-ups believe their worth is greater than the next person.

Just as Paul warned his listeners, here is a stark truth: No one is better or more important than others to God. The fact that within your church, you are the pastor or other minister, deacon, teacher, employee, choir, or praise team member, or endowed with multiple spiritual gifts or talents, you are not better than the member who only occupies a pew each week. Whether you are CEO of a company, “employee of the month,” or the custodian, no difference to God, nor do you have the right to look down on the woman who is barren when you have a fruitful womb.

There is nothing with which you can pride yourself—not even holding the highest position in the United States—no title or position qualifies you, your spouse, children, or other family members to be labeled “better” than the next person. However, God holds you accountable for who and what you are, for what He has entrusted to you. If you want to measure your standing and worth, place yourself next to the perfect One named above all names: Jesus. Save yourself the embarrassment, step down from the flawed pedestal, and put a plant on it.