Romans 12:3 “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 measure of faith God has given you.”

If there is a sin that sits at the heart and center of all that sin is; if there is a sin that is the source of all others, it is the sin Paul identifies here: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” Pride, arrogance: look at the dangerous things that follow from this attitude. When we think too highly of ourselves we aren’t properly concerned with what God says. We find ourselves believing, embracing, and doing the wrong things because we think we know more than he does.

How many Bible stories aren’t basically God telling his people, “Don’t touch this. You’ll get burned.” And in their pride his people decide, “Nah. It’s okay. I’ll be alright.” And they get burned. Adam and Eve. Moses and Pharaoh and the 10 plagues. David and Bathsheba. Israel’s whole history of dabbling in idolatry.

When we think too highly of ourselves, we aren’t properly concerned with our neighbor. Is there anyone you less want to be around than a person who thinks he’s better than you? What’s a prideful person good for? They are only in to serving themselves. They don’t take advice. How is any of this compatible with the life Paul urges on us, one that looks at God’s mercy and responds accordingly?

So he urges us instead: “…rather think of yourself with sober judgment.” Thinking about ourselves in a sober way involves remembering three things. First, we are people that God has made, and he made us with real gifts and talents. Each of us has wonderful abilities, sometimes very unique ones. It is not sinfully arrogant to acknowledge that. It’s sober thinking.

Second, we are all a moral mess. None of us have anything to be proud of when it comes to keeping God’s commands and loving our neighbor. We aren’t worse than anyone else, but we certainly aren’t better, either. Honesty requires us to admit this.

And third, in view of God’s mercy, we are children he has redeemed and forgiven. We ought to repent of our sin. We don’t need to wallow in never-ending self-loathing and despair over it. The sooner we embrace this truth, the sooner our lives will line up with the faith God has given us.

Exchanging pride for a more realistic self-regard isn’t a loss to our value or dignity. It roots our identity in God’s grace and sets us free from the constant need to prove something. He has already made you far more than anything you would have imagined for yourself.