Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think… I. IN THE WORK OF MUTUAL MINISTRY WITHIN THE CHURCH THERE IS SOMETHING:FOR EVERY MEMBER TO PERFORM. The appeal is "to every man that is among you." The Church is "one body in Christ," "every one" being a "member" of some kind, and having his proper office. Every member, organ, nerve, vein, bone, ligament has its proper function in the natural body; and as soon as any one fails, there ensues that disturbance of the harmonic activity which we call disease. In the Church, Christ is the Head, the Centre of life, intelligence, and authority, and His Holy Spirit the organic principle. But every individual believer has his own proper sphere of influence and activity for the general good (Ephesians 4:15, 16). If he neglects that ministry, not only will he himself suffer damage or excision, but the body also will suffer loss thereby. II. IN ORDER THAT EVERY MAN MAY DO HIS OWN PROPER WORK, HE MUST FORM A SOBER, PRACTICAL ESTIMATE OF HIS OWN ABILITY. The work must be thoughtfully done. But the thought, to be productive, must be sober. The worker is admonished "not to be high-minded above that which he ought to he minded, but to be so minded as to be sober-minded." For — 1. If a man thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think, he will probably despise the service to which the Master has called him, and seek to undertake work for which be has not the adequate powers. This will, in all likelihood, be marred, and himself humiliated, while that will fall to more worthy hands. All such aspiring persons world do well to ponder the warning words (Mark 10:43-45). In Christ's Church the surest way towards honourable promotion is that of prompt, earnest, humble service in that which is close at hand. 2. If a man under-estimates his ability, and thinks that he can do nothing, or nothing of profit to the Master, then he will do nothing, and the Church will lose his service and he will lose his reward (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27). Therefore — 3. The apostle supplies a standard for the measurement of thought in the work of self-estimation. Let every man "think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith" — i.e., the confidence which a man has in Christ, and in himself by the grace of Christ, that he has competent ability for service. The man who has faith in himself generally succeeds; while a better man, if full of doubt and hesitation, fails. I must not so under-estimate my gifts as to decline any service; for some power has most certainly been imparted. But I must not attempt service for which I am unfit in the fanatical confidence that I shall obtain supernatural aid. Nor need I stand in doubt as to whether or not I have a Divine call to the work; the ability and opportunity ought to be sufficient. III. THE SERVICE, AND THE SPIRIT AND MANNER IN WHICH IT SHOULD BE DISCHARGED (vers. 6-8). 1. The ministry of the Word: he that "prophesieth," "teacheth," "exhorteth." The New Testament prophet was pre-eminently the preacher: and he must preach or prophesy according to the proportion of faith. But there are those who are not called to this ministry, who can nevertheless speak words of warning, exhortation, or comfort, either in the intercourse of daily life, the prayermeeting, or the village sanctuary; and any Church which does not encourage these gifted ones is sadly defective. There are others again who, though neither apt to exhort, nor able to preach, have, notwithstanding, the gift of teaching. They can instruct in the Sabbath school. Let none of these neglect the gift that is in him. Let none ambitiously aspire to an office for which he is not equal; and, on the other hand, let none refuse to employ his one talent because he has not more and higher gifts. 2. There is also the ministry of finance and benevolence. That the apostle here speaks of the official diaconate is morally certain, because that it is mentioned in the midst of other offices which are expressly specified as such (1 Corinthians 12:28-30). To them, therefore, would fall the work of superintending and directing the active charities of the Church. He who gave would be, not the disburser of, but the contributor to, the relief fund; and he who showed mercy might be either a person appointed to the special work of relieving the sick and poor, or one who engaged in the good work out of his own impulse. These ministries; though not confined to official persons, were sanctioned by the properly appointed officers. Conclusion: Warning may be here given against two evils. 1. That of those who render very small, if any, service to the cause of Christ, but who criticise those who do. This is a crying evil, and a Christian ought to be ashamed of it. 2. That of over-estimating some particular department of service. (W. Tyson.) Parallel Verses KJV: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. |
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