I'm I As Great As I think I Am?

Have you ever known that person who stands around and criticizes those around them, talking as if they are better than everyone else?   I think we all know that person, the thing is that person really isn’t any better than those they are complaining about.  Most of the time the thing they compline about is the same thing they do.  Paul warns us not to become that person, in chapter six of Galatians he tells them this about correcting another Christian.  “Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.”(Ga 6:1-3)  He reminds them that they also may fall into the same temptation as those who they are trying help.  He says to them, remember in this be humble and do not think to highly of yourself.  He also reminds them that they are above no one.  It is our job to be obedient to Christ and help those who need help, while not looking down on them.

Paul is once again reminding his readers not to be focused on thinking of how great they are.  It’s their job to be humble in Christ to not be overcome with themselves as being the one who is great and awesome, but to be the person who is always striving to improve their relationship with God.  He tells us this in verses four through five; “Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”  Paul tells us, we are not to worry about what others may be doing, that’s not our responsibility, we are to be a living for God by making it a point to grow stronger in God.  The way we conduct ourselves and live our lives is showing the world around who Christ is.  God is not going to judge us on the standard of how others have lived but on how we lived our lives.  We cannot go before the throne and say “well, I may have had my faults but Floyd over there was much worse.” (I really do not know anyone named Floyd)  Paul tells us we must start building a foundation on which our faith is going to grow deeper, and we continue to do good when we can. (Want to see what Christ had say about all this read Luke 6:27-49). 

Let us stop being concerned with what others may or may not be doing right, let us be more concerned about how we are living our lives.  Are we focused on the word God, and prayer as we should be? Are we going to be easily mislead by corrupt teachers, and bad theology?  Paul leave us with this thought: “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross,  my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead. It doesn’t make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God’s mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle.” (Ga 6:14-16)