“3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.”
In the previous devotional, Paul called on his Roman readers to be holy in body and spirit. He begins his next paragraph with a warning against becoming legalistic or prideful towards other believers. He cautions against thinking too highly of ourselves. We must remember that we all have been saved by God’s grace. Paul’s warning against arrogance harkens back to Chapter 11.
“True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware, because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.” — Romans 11:20-21
We are warned about thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to, but how should we think instead? Paul says, “Instead, think sensibly,…”. (v. 3b)
“So let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.” — 2 Corinthians 10:17-18
If we are doing what the Lord commands, we need not boast in ourselves, for it would be wrong to do so. We are not the cause of our salvation, nor are we given spiritual gifts by God because of anything in us. Yet, God will commend those who are doing His will. How much more meaningful and fulfilling it must be to be commended by God rather than oneself. What does it look like to be a humble, faithful, and sensible servant?
“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” — 1 Peter 4:10-11
Put simply, serve others and give God the glory! This service will look different in the lives of each Christian. In verses 4-5 Paul goes on to describe the body of believers as a physical body, one which is made up of many different parts, all with the same goal of glorifying and praising God. As each Christian takes their call to be holy, it may look different for each individual. One may be an eye, and another an ear. Each has its own unique role, but each is equally important to the body, and each can glorify and worship God. Just because other believers may be doing it differently than us does not mean that they are wrong, or are in sin, or need to change what they are doing. (See 1 Corinthians 12:12-26) How are we to be different? In no way is Paul implying that we should be accepting of one another’s sin; that there is somehow to be no judgment against brothers and sisters of the faith who are in sin. We know that’s not what Paul is saying, as it would go against the context of the entire letter thus far. We should be different in the ways in which we serve each other. We should be different in the ways that we use our unique, God given spiritual gifts.
Take another look at the spiritual gifts listed by Paul: “According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.” (v. 6b-8) What do each of these acts of service have in common? They are done in service, service of each other and service to God. We ought to exercise the use of our God given gifts, whatever they may be, to the fullest extent possible and take advantage of every opportunity to use them to reflect the glory of our Creator God and accomplish His will as revealed in Scripture! (See also 1 Corinthians 12:1-11)