For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 12:3
The Bible suggests that pride led to Satan's downfall and, subsequently, man's as well (1 Timothy 3:6). Satan wanted to be like God (Isaiah 14:12-15), and he tempted man with the same desire (Genesis 3:4-5). Ever since, we are tempted to "think of [ourselves] more highly than [we] ought to think."
Recommended Reading:
Ephesians 4:7, 11-16
Paul wrote that we each have "gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us" (Romans 12:6). His warning about thinking pridefully about our gifts has a flip side: Neither should we think more lowly than we ought to about our gifts from God. Instead of thinking about ourselves, we should think about God and the grace He has given. No member of the Body of Christ is more or less important than any other. We are to walk in the calling whereby we have been gifted and called (Ephesians 4:1).
Thank God today for who He has created and called you to be. Let your focus be on Him and His glory.
Pride of gifts robs us of God's blessing in the use of them.
William Gurnall
