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Thursday, March 13, 2025

Arrogant Humility

Paul wrote, "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith" (Rom 12:3). And while the more proud among us wince, the more lowly affirm, "Well, at least I have that going for me. I don't think very highly of myself at all." But, as is often the case, we are mistaken. We're all aware that many humans are arrogant. They think more highly of themselves than they ought. Our entire culture is pointed in that direction. "You deserve ..." "You're wonderful ..." "Don't let anyone get in the way of your dreams." David declared, "But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people" (Psa 22:6). "No, no, we're not 'worms'. Don't say that." The famous hymn, Amazing Grace, originally said
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
"No, let's not say 'wretch'." Some modern versions change it to "saved a one like me." Or "saved and set me free." We're not wretches. So "thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought" really is a problem. But ... I would contend that so is our "humility" version.

Some of us suffer from poor self image. We think we're useless or of little value or incompetent or the like. The modern term is "low self-esteem," but "esteem" refers to "worth," so I prefer the "self-image" term simply to indicate how we see ("image") ourselves. We fail to see any strengths or beauty or value or whatever and only see the worst. So we're not thinking more highly of ourselves as we ought; we're thinking more lowly of ourselves than we ought. And I suspect that's a bigger problem for many than the arrogant issue. But ... I would argue that this, too is arrogance -- thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought. How? Well, Scripture says we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psa 139:14). David wrote, "You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb" (Psa 139:13). Who made you? God Himself. And, David affirms, "Wonderful are Your works" (Psa 139:14). So when we declare that we're ... less, inferior, useless, worthless, etc., we declare, "Nope, God! You're wrong!" We quarrel with our Maker, questioning His work (Isa 45:9). We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we tell Him, "Well, that's Your opinion; You're wrong."

It turns out that those who think more highly of themselves than they ought by seeing themselves as better than they are aren't alone in this. It turns out that our shaking of our fists in God's face, complaining about how poorly we are made, is just as arrogant. We see it as humility, but it's not. It's arrogance. And we ought to be thankful to the God who formed us and declare, "Wonderful are Your works." We ought to ... "think so as to have sound judgment," beginning with, "Lord, You're right."

3 comments:

Craig said...

It's an interesting paradox. On the one hand we're created in the image of YHWH, and valuable enough that He sent Jesus to die for us, on the other we are corrupted by sin and separated from Him. Yet that is our value, it's (as you point out) that we reflect Him.

David said...

It is important for us to have an accurate understanding of our worth. Humility can be just as bad as arrogance. The Pharisee that prayed that he was glad to not be as bad as that tax collector was demonstrating a bad kind of humility.

Lorna said...

In Paul’s admonition “…not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment…,” I believe the important clarifying phrases are “than he ought to think” and “have sound judgment.” If one develops their self-image based on God’s Word and not humanistic influences and factors, he/she would have the proper view--i.e. “sound judgment”--of him/herself. As you say, both thinking too highly of ourselves and thinking too lowly of ourselves--neither being as we ought…with sound judgment--are dishonoring to God, who sent His Son to redeem fallen men and women, restoring their intrinsic value as His creation. False humility is just pride in disguise, and while we might fool others with such a pretense, God is not duped, of course.

As firmly as I believe that this is true, I also concede that getting this right--i.e. forming the proper view of ourselves from God’s perspective--can often be difficult (even “Christian counselors” are oftentimes unhelpful in this regard). Remembering above all things that I am a sinner saved by grace should keep me from thinking either too highly or too lowly of myself.