The Big Head

Romans 12:3 NIV

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."

A popular term in the 1980s was "big head".  I do not know how long the term has been around but I remember its constant use.  Sometimes it referred to a person with an actual big head but for the most part it referred to a person who was thinking more highly of themselves than they should have been.  Do you remember anyone like that?

Most of us have been taught to compliment others.  The problem with compliments is the overuse leading to a demise of a person's character.  I recently read a book that highlights how to properly use recognition within an organization to help reinforce mission and work ethic.  I will blog on it soon.  The important part of recognition is not to make the person superior to others but to honor proper attitude.

Paul was addressing this problem in the church.  Some had a big head.  They were beginning to believe they were untouchable and the people were starting to believe it.  So Paul in God's love knocks the people off their pedestal but in a way that puts everyone in place without pointing fingers.

Paul says we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought.  Doing so could create a false sense of humility and turn the nose of fellow believers.  For example, if a boss is making a lot of money and makes it consistently known to an employee by bragging about overspending, then the employee may soon resent the boss. 

For Christians we should not consider ourselves separated but joined in a common cause.  There will always be someone with more responsibility or less responsibility but all are responsible. We are to work together for the same cause, and if someone is not carrying their weight, then the cause suffers - we all suffer.

God is the enabler.  He gives us our tasks according to our abilities.   No one person is tasked with something more important than the others even if one may hold a higher position or more weight.  This is where sober reflection becomes important. 

If we are too busy and too concerned with who we are then we may be stepping on the abilities and responsibilities of others.  We may be lowering them below us or we may be attributing too much to them.  Only God who gifts us deserves that much glory.

Romans 12:4-5 NIV - "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

Think about this. Reflect on how you treat other Christians and their abilities.  Are you carrying your full weight?  Are you placing too much attention on yourself?  Are you over-respecting the position of another - making them untouchable or giving them the big head?  Are you belittling the responsibilities of others?

Sober reflection.