Avoiding Two Extremes

Polar-opposites, pride and inferiority, challenge us as we navigate life. We love how Scripture admonishes us to establish our pathway apart from these two dead ends.

In Romans 12:3 (NASB) Paul shares: “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.”

Later in 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV) Paul tells Timothy: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

In the generationally focused ministry of YES!, we like to point out that God has allotted to each generation a measure of faith. We each have a measure, not the whole ball of wax, so interacting with and affirming other generations is crucial to understanding our context.

On the other side of pride, we have a tendency to sell ourselves short and settle for an inferiority complex, sometimes reinforced by others. This goes beyond humility and keeps us from the courageous faith God wants us to exercise.

God wants us to set these extreme thought patterns aside. They are both counter-productive. In the Romans passage, Paul doesn’t want us to stop thinking but directs us to sound judgment. In 1 Timothy he doesn’t want Timothy to run from his age but to instead set a good example.

Of course, in our youth-oriented culture it’s easy for older adults to be looked down on, and even diminishing height, energy and strength might contribute to a diminished sense of self.

Let’s not get lost in those weeds. Let’s set an example through our speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.

Sound thinkers but not prideful. Humble but not without a place at the table. Help us, Jesus, to stay on Your path!