Don't Think Too Highly of Your Role in the Body of Christ

Thinking about Romans 12:3-5.

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For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Romans 12:3-5)

Paul urged Christians to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1). To do this required them to be transformed by God, not molded to the world (Romans 12:2).

Actions must back up the transformed life. Beginning in Romans 12:3, Paul describes what a transformed life - a life that is a living sacrifice to God - looks like.

Don’t Think Too Highly of Yourself.

Based on the grace given to Paul - which in this context refers to his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:5) - he commanded the Christians in Rome not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think.

Instead, they were “to think soberly” or “to think with sober judgment” (ESV) as God had dealt to each one a measure of faith.

The figurative use of [measure] in Romans 12:3 is also found in 2 Corinthians 10:13 and several times in Ephesians (Eph. 4:7, 13, 16). All of the gifts given to Christians have a measure and a limit, in contrast to Christ, who received the Spirit of God without measure or restriction (John 3:34). Paul was not, however, arguing that some had a greater measure of faith than others, but that the “measure of faith” was the same for all. This “measure” is a measuring rod called “faith,” and it is up to each Christian to see where he stands in light of that standard. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 431-432

So perhaps Paul is calling upon Christians not to be arrogant but rather to carefully consider themselves in comparison to God’s measure (or standard) of faith.

Another idea about this phrase, “measure of faith,” is that it refers to “the specific expression of faith (office or work) delivered to each Christian” (McGuiggan, Romans, 350). If this is the proper interpretation, then Paul is saying: “Don’t think too highly of yourself because the abilities you have and your role in the body are gifts from God.”

Either way, I think the point remains the same: Don’t think too highly of yourself and your abilities to serve in the body of Christ.

Every Member of the Body of Christ is Important.

We shouldn’t think too highly of ourselves because every member of the body of Christ is important.

Just because all the members don’t have the same function doesn’t mean some are unimportant while others should be raised up on a pedestal.

Paul made a very similar point in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Every member of the body of Christ is essential. While we all have different functions and gifts, that doesn’t mean that some members of the body don’t matter.

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Wise leadership recognizes what Paul says in the section of scripture. These kind of leaders get to know their flock and use them in the areas in which they feel equipped…Leadership is to lead saints into using their whole lives for the Master. It is better and more productive for leadership to bring out the abilities their charges have than to brow-beat them concerning gifts they don’t have. - McGuiggan, Romans, 352-353

Every member of the body - the church (Ephesians 1:22-23) - of Christ is to function and serve in some way to help build up and strengthen the body (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Part of the shepherd’s and teacher’s role is to help each individual member of the flock find their place in the service of the body based on their abilities and gifts. Of course, all of this must be done in accordance with the Chief Shepherd’s will.