Showing posts with label Epistle to the Ephesians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Epistle to the Ephesians. Show all posts

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Spiritual Gifts: Chapter 4.3 - The Gift of Pastor/Teacher, by Jay Quine

Christ's Charge to Peter by Raphael, 1515. In ...Charge to Peter: "Shepherd My sheep." posted by Jay Quine

The word translated “pastor” is the word for “shepherd.”[1] A pastor is a shepherd of a flock of God’s people, serving under Jesus who is called the “chief shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4). In John 21, Jesus instructs the pastor/shepherd to feed the sheep.

To “feed the sheep” meant to teach them. A pastor is a teacher, as indicated by the grammatical construction in Ephesians 4:11 which really describe not two but one “pastor-teacher.”[2] A pastor is gifted in instructing others in ways of righteousness. A pastor is one who is sensitively concerned for the spiritual growth of the Lord’s people. He is gifted in encouraging others to live a life pleasing to the Lord, no matter what the circumstances.

What separates the pastor from a teacher who isn’t a pastor is leadership. From a close examination of several words used in the New Testament for leadership, we see that the pastor is also an elder and also an overseer of the church. This can be seen if we apply a little algebra!

In a quadratic formula, if A = B, and B = C, then what is the relationship between A and C? (take you time… … …). Okay, I’ll tell you—they’re equal. So, let’s apply that to the role of pastor-teacher as an elder and overseer of the church.

A = B

Elder = Overseer, according to Titus 1:5, 7

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you…Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless…

B = C

Overseer = Teacher, as seen in 1 Timothy 3:1-2

If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.

So, according to algebra, certain elders are also teachers. This is confirmed in 1 Timothy 5:17.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Let’s try again. Since certain elders (A) are also teachers (B):

A = B

Elders = Teachers, from 1 Timothy 5:17, and

B = C

Teacher = Pastor, from the grammatical construction in Ephesians 4:11, we would expect there to be an identity between the office of elder and gift of pastor. Not surprisingly, we find it in 1 Peter 5:1-2.

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: be shepherds of God’s flock that is in your care, serving as overseers—not because you must but because you are willing.

Conclusions:

1) The gifts of pastor-teacher and teacher are given today, to

2) shepherd others in the ways of God, through the teaching, guiding, and application the word,

3) with a passion to see believers nourished and grow in Christ.

4) The pastor is also serves as an overseer and elder of a local church.

Certain core values would accompany the gift of pastor-teacher. These decision shaping values influence the decisions of the one endowed with such a gift. Let’s look at how Timothy led his life.

It was likely Timothy’s gift was that of pastor-teacher. Encouraging his pastoral duties, Paul wrote him. “Until I come, give attention to the reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you.” (1Timothy 4:13-14) He was to “be ready to preach to word, in season and out of season.” (2Timothy 4:2) Likewise, embedded in 1 and 2 Timothy are words to encourage his pastoral leadership. Timothy was a servant of God, entrusted with the gift of pastor-teacher.

His values fit with his gift. Although he likely struggled with the desire for things of the world, his values would mature. He was to lead the disciplined life of a soldier or an athlete (2Timothy 2:3-5). His values would reflect a low need for physical comfort, and high priority toward those values reflecting a need to enhance the lives of others.

[1]See poimen, in Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich and Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, University of Chicago Press, 1979 p. 684.

[2]See Hoehner, Ephesians, pp. 543-44 where, after observing the one article for the two gifts joined by the “and” (kai) as explicative (“pastors, that is teachers”), he concludes that even if two separate groups, one is a subset of the other. In other words, all pastors are to be teachers, but not all teachers are pastors.

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Spiritual Gifts: Chapter 4.1 - Spiritual Steroids, by Jay Quine

Ministry of the Apostles, a complex multi-figu...Ministry of the Apostles, posted by Quine
Your Gifts, Your Values -- Quine

What is the worst gift you have ever received? It doesn’t take me long to think of the one on the top of my list. It was our first Christmas after we were married. My wife’s mother, my mother-in-law, gave me a present. We were in my in-law’s home, all the extended family and grand kids gathered around the tree, as I unwrapped a sugar bowl of our china. My first thought was Christian enough; “Lord, what in heaven’s name is it?” My mother-in-law explained, “I wanted to make sure you had a complete set of your china.” We still don’t.

From my unbiased perspective, this was a useless gift. We have used it maybe three times in all our years of marriage. It sits in our cupboard. By the time we pull it out to use it again the sugar has gone from a sedimentary to the metamorphic rock stage. To me it is worse than useless: it adds little to our life (but for more frustration) and takes up space in our home.

The same is true for some Christians and their spiritual gifts. God has given each of us one or more spiritual gifts, but many set them in the cupboard of their lives, only to bring them out to be used on rare occasions—and even then only after extensive cleaning first! In effect, all they do is take up space as their gifts grow harder and harder over time. Let’s examine the spiritual gifts to end stagnation for us!

Ephesians 4:14-16

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Let’s look at some of these “parts.”

The gift of “Apostle”

Originally, the word “apostle” was used for ships being sent out for cargo or on military expeditions. It was rarely used of people, until in the New Testament where it is used commonly for the twelve who witnessed the resurrection of Christ, and where Paul referred to those who, as delegates of Jesus Christ, were sent to propagate the message of salvation and start new local churches.[1] While the root word includes the concept of “being sent out,” it focuses on being a representative and not necessarily physical travel. This is borne out by the fact that the Twelve Apostles mostly remained in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). There they continued to function as ambassadors for Jesus Christ.

The New Testament sets forth clear requirements to be an Apostle. In the Gospels many were called disciples but only a select group of them were called “apostles.” Matthew 10:2 identifies them as the “twelve apostles.” The book of Acts also calls them “the apostles.” For example, when Matthias was picked in Acts 1:21-26, “he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Two requirements had to be met: 1) to have accompanied Jesus during his earthly ministry, and 2) to be an eyewitness of His resurrection (compare 1 Cor 9:1-2).

Verification that one was an apostle was the ability to perform miraculous signs and wonders (2 Cor 12:12). Besides the twelve, Paul and Barnabas are called apostles in Acts 14:4 and 14. Clearly Paul meets the requirement of seeing the resurrected Jesus, since he met Him in Acts 9 on the highway to Damascus. The first two Chapters of Galatians is spent validating Paul’s apostleship. But we don’t have the confirming evidence demonstrating why Barnabas is called an apostle. We must presume he met the requirements. However, it is important to note that no other mortal man is clearly called an apostle.

The gift of apostle was one of the foundation gifts for the church (Eph 2:20). Once a foundation was is laid it did not need to be laid again. Other materials (in this case gifts) are laid upon it. It is likely then that the gift of an apostle was only bestowed by God at the beginning, the foundation, of the church age.

A great example of a person with the gift of apostle is Peter. Peter met all the requirements. Certainly he meets the qualification of seeing the Lord, both during His earthly ministry, and after His resurrection. Peter also performed innumerable signs and wonders, as Acts 5:12-15 indicates.

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

Not only did he walk with Jesus personally, perform signs and wonders, but Peter clearly served as an ambassador and representative of the Lord, as the meaning of “apostle” would indicate. In Acts 10 Peter was sent by God to witness to a Gentile named Cornelius. Upon arriving at his house he explains to Cornelius, “God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

Cornelius answers, “I sent for you immediately, and it was good for you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Peter was sent to take the message from the Lord Jesus to those people. He served as a representative or ambassador of the King. Clearly, Peter was an apostle.

Conclusions:

1) Only the Twelve apostles, Barnabas and Paul are clearly apostles.

2) An Apostle had to be a direct witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3) The sign of an Apostle was the ability to perform signs and wonders.

4) The gift of apostle was a foundation gift for the church. Because of this foundational aspect, the gift of Apostle is not included in the spiritual gift assessment survey explained in this book.


[1]See Herald Hoehner’s explanation in Ephesians, An Exegetical Commentary, Baker Academic, 2002, pp. 134-25, and 540-42.

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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Spiritual Gifts: Chapter 3.3 - Use of Our "Talents"--The Responsible Use of Spiritual Gifts, by Jay Quine


How do you responsibly use your spiritual gift? Three things to consider. The first is: Use them Purposefully.

Ephesians 4:7, 11-13

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it… It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Don’t miss some important observations. First, verse 7 reminds us that since they are given “according to the measure of Christ's gift” it is the Lord who is sovereign in giving the gifts. They are His, and we are only bailees of them!

Second, this is a partial list (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers). Verse 12 tells us the purpose of these four gifts is to prepare God’s people for works of service. These four gifts are used to develop the other gifts in other people for mature works of service.

For example, I can’t read through a book like the book of Ephesians without getting excited! “Yes, thank you Lord for entrusting the Apostle Paul with the gift of an apostle.” I think of pastors and teachers who have taught me, and inspired me—inspired me to get up and stand up and serve the Lord with all that I am! So I say, “Yes, thank you Lord for gifting those people.”

This is true for everyone, for notice what Ephesians 4:16 says:

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Gifts have their purpose. The four gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4 have as their purpose to rouse and ignite other gifts into action. The gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher are to mature the gifts in others. These others are thereby equipped or prepared to utilize what God has entrusted to them to do the work of the ministry by serving the body. Pastors are not the only ministers in church—each part of the body is as well! Different emphasis, different gifts, but all work together toward each other’s maturity. Through the exercise of the spiritual gift the pastor prepares others for service, but in turn needs the service of others to grow and mature. Each gift has its purpose.

Second, to responsibly use our gifts we must use them Properly.

1 Corinthians 12:7

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

This verse indicates a common goal even in great diversity of the gifts. Reading further, verses 27-31 shows equal importance yet priority:

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration and those speaking indifferent kinds of tongues.

Notice the priority. Which is first? Which is second? Which is third? Then, which are fourth—all the rest! It looks like this in this:

1st, 2nd, and 3rd then…

apostles miracles

prophets healing

teachers helps

administration

tongues

The Corinthians had it backwards. They were all excited about the more flamboyant gifts like healing and tongues, to the neglect of the more foundational ones. They had the wrong priority. In the church, the proper function of the gifts is to focus on those which edify the others. Encourage, and support those who teach in your church—for (unless you have apostles and prophets in attendance!) they are our top priority gifts today!

Use spiritual gifts not only purposefully and properly, but, third:

Use them Powerfully.

Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

This is another partial list. The important thing is the description of how the person with one of these particular gifts is to use them—they are all followed by words of power!

It’s like playing an acoustic guitar. If you play an acoustic guitar in a large room, those close can hear it well. But if you put an electric pick-up on it and plug it into a high powered amp and speakers thousands can hear you. What Paul suggests is to use your gifts as if they are plugged in and amplified. He mentions several:

Prophecy

If your gift is prophecy, then with all your might, proclaim the revelation of God.

Serving

If serving then serve! as if you’re a high powered waiter working in a five star restaurant!

Teaching

If you are gifted in teaching then take every opportunity to teach, and work at teaching with all you’ve got!

Exhortation

If you’re given to encouragement, then strengthen that gift so you make use of every opportunity and means to lift others up!

Giving

If you gifted in giving then build those giving muscles! Give with from every aspect of your heart and soul.

Leading

Lead with great diligence, if you’re a blessing to others in your leadership.

Mercy

Rather than followed by a word of amplification, the person gifted in mercy is to use it with joy. Here lies the power in this gift—joy even when the person needing mercy is requiring extra grace!

Conclusion: The Best Present I Was Ever Given

What was the best present you’ve ever been given? One on the top of my list was a bicycle my parents gave me for Christmas when I was 14. I told them the model I wanted, knew where they could buy it, even told them the price! And low and behold, that Christmas morning, there it was—my first ten speed!

From that day on I rode that bike everywhere. Rarely again did I take the bus; I rode my bike to school. I rode to the store; I rode to the lake; I even rode that bike over 300 miles across the State of Washington on a five day bike-hike. If it can be said that you can wear out a bike, I did!

As a result of riding my bike my legs grew incredibly strong. I had powerful thighs. I became a decent runner—a good sprinter. It was because of my speed that when the time came for the basketball try-outs in high school I made the team, even though I hadn’t played much ball before. That gave me great confidence and taught me how to be part of a team. In my senior year I made the all city team, and was offered a scholarship from a school in California. Even though I didn’t play ball in college, it bolstered my confidence.

As a result of that bike I was brash enough to be adventurous and try new things. When I graduated from school I couldn’t find a job in the area I wanted, so I started my own business. When a position came open to teach at the University, I applied and told the Dean (in partial desperation), “You’ll be making a big mistake if you don’t hire me.” He hired me! I was 24 years old teaching business law. When the time came for me to decide go to seminary to study to be a pastor, I had the confidence to leave it all behind. Now I am a pastor, using the gifts God has entrusted to me—and I can trace it all back to the bicycle my parents gave me one Christmas!

How different my life would be if I didn’t ride that bike, or if I only used it once or twice! It is because I rode it into the ground that I developed the muscles needed for basketball, which resulted in confidence, and so much influence in my life.

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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Spiritual Gifts: Chapter 1.3 - Committed to the Principle of Peace, by Jay Quine

Your Gifts, Your Values -- Quine

The commitment to love and the commitment to peace are in parallel in these two verses. We see this relationship also in Colossians, a companion letter to the book of Ephesians.

Colossians 3:14

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

What would it be like to get a call from God? In a very practical and realistic way, Ephesians 4:1-3 tells us. The Lord instructs us to cease from our concern about the DOing, and focus on the WHOing. God is concerned about who we are.

Through the multiplicity of one’s, unity is possible

Ephesians 4:3-6 explains how unity is possible. It is through the many “one’s” that are listed. There is one:

body

Spirit

hope

Lord

faith

baptism

God and Father

While these are all linked together, “body” and “Spirit” are especially tied. One body and Spirit. It is God the Holy Spirit who indwells us and therefore forms the body of Christ, as His ministry of bringing people to the Savior yields results. No matter who we are, where we are, no matter what church we belong to, even what time in church history God places us, all believers are part of one universal body, united together by the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look within this “one” list at the word “hope.” One hope in the calling—that God has called us, appointed us to be part of the future promised Kingdom. “Hope” literally means “confidence with expectancy,”[1] especially of our salvation. All believers have that same confident expectation of the great wedding feast to come.

“One Lord, one faith and one baptism” naturally flow together, for it is the Lord in whom we have all believed (our faith in common), and in whom we have been identified or spiritually baptized. Obviously the use of “baptism” is not a reference to being physically baptized in water, because we have all done that at different times. There was certainly more than one event. But we are all united or identified together with the Lord Jesus—baptism in the sense of identifying with the Lord (just as the people of Israel were identified or baptized with Moses, as in 1Corinthians 10:2).

“And one God and Father Who is over all,” our God sovereign over us, whether Jew or Gentile, American or Asian; “through all,” He works His will on earth by using us; “and in all,” since through His Spirit resides in us.

Let’s summarize what we’ve seen so far. If we were to write our own verse based on this passage, it may go something like this: “God is not like man that He should add like man, for God’s math is not like man’s math.”

Unless things have changed, only 1 plus 0 = 1. But according to Ephesians 4:4-6, and the unity taught in this context, one plus these seven things still equals 1.

1 + ? = 1

There is a unity, a singleness, and a oneness—even after adding or putting together these seven things, it still comes out ONE. Since believers are committed to the principle of love, committed to the principle of peace, knowing that God has given them a call and challenged them to humility and patience, there is unity. The prioritization of certain values results in living a worthy life.


[1]The word elpis is defined by Rudolf Bultmann, in the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, 2:530 -31, Gerhard Kittle, editor, as the “expectation of something welcome…If hope is fixed on God, it embraces at once the three elements of expectation of the future, trust and the patience of waiting.”

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Spiritual Gifts - Committed to the Principle of Love: Chapter 1.3, by Jay Quine

Your Gifts, Your Values -- Quine

The rest Ephesians 4:2 concludes with two little words: “in love.” F.F. Bruce writes of the force of the preposition “in” here. He concludes that it is the governing sphere of the entire concept—what he calls the commitative use.[1] The Lord is telling us that while picking up humility and are patient with one another, to be committed to the principle of LOVE. “Love” (the original word is agape) is not erotic love. Nor is not the kind of love you might have for your brother or your sister. It is a selfless let it roll off your back, “I’m going to love you no matter what” kind of love. It is love based on your character, not someone else’s. It is a love that says, “I’m going to love you because I am a lover; it doesn’t matter what you are, but I am a person who loves. I am committed to the principle of love.”

Be committed to the principle of L O V E !

It is the only way to be humble and patient with one another on a consistent basis.

Jay gasping! “Phew. Humility and patience. Okay Lord. I hear You.”

God interjecting: “Jay, there’s just one more thing.

Jay, incredulous: “One MORE thing?”

God: Yes. It’s just something I want you to hold on to and continue to carry along the way. It’s harmonious unity.”

Ephesians 4:3

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

If we are careful to notice, unity is something the Ephesian church already had—they had it and the Lord was asking them to keep it. Unity is the expected result of our salvation—once you realize you’ve been called by God, elected, invited to the greatest marriage reception in all the universe, to have eternal life forever, to enter the Kingdom of God through the riches of His grace, blessing, and mercy—the natural thing is to be unified with other people who are also called.

Imagine a later conversation after your phone call from God:

Jay: “Hey Greg, guess who called me yesterday?

Greg: “I give up. Who?”

Jay: “God did. You know, the Lord, God, the almighty creator and sustainer of the universe.”

Greg: “Who are you kidding? Are you feeling okay?”

With those who haven’t been called, there is a natural separation. It is a separation even reflected in our values. They just don’t understand. But imagine this chat the next day.

Greg, yelling across the parking lot: “Hey, Jay! Guess who called ME last night?”

Jay, somewhat defensive: “Look, dude. Don’t mess with me.”

Greg: “No, really. God called me! I accepted His invitation to believe in Jesus as my personal savior from sin! I too have been challenged to live through a re-prioritization of my values.”

Jay: “That’s fantastic! We’ll be in heaven together forever!”

Together, with a high five: “Whoa!”

That’s unity. Strive to keep that unity through the excitement of knowing you all have been called by God.

Now, how can you do this? By being committed to a value principle just as before. Again F.F. Bruce helps us out. Once again, the same preposition at the end of verse 3 is used commitatively.


[1] You can read his analysis in The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians, The New international Commentary on the New Testament, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, 1984, p. 334, and especially note 6.

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Spiritual Gifts - Why has God called you? Chapter 1.2, by Jay Quine

Your Gifts, Your Values -- Quine

Why has God called you?

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1

This verse simply says, “Live life with a certain mindset—with particular values.” It is focused on the word “called.” “Live a life worth of the calling you received.” Two words are used for “called” here. The first is like an invitation. The second like an appointment. So, we could read the verse like, “Life a life worthy of the invitation to which you have been appointed.”

In the first three chapters of Ephesians Paul repeats the truth that we have been appointed to be part of Kingdom of God. Those who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, God has chosen before the foundation of the earth, and already elected to be part of His family. The NIV translation picks up this concept,

“As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

He is saying, since we have received a call from God, an invitation from God, live a life by embracing values that show it.

What would it be like to receive an invitation over the phone from God? The conversation could go something like this:

(Ring, ring.)

Jay, answering: “Hello.”

God: “Yes, hello. This is God calling. Who is this?

Jay, surprised: “Wow, is it really you, God? This is great. Well, Lord, this is Jay.”

God, musing: “Jay? Jay? Hummm… Jay who? I must have the wrong number.”

Jay, puzzled: “You know, God. This is Jay. Jay Quine.”

God: “Oh, Jay Quine…I’m sorry to bother you. I called you by mistake.” (Click)

Hopefully a call from God wouldn’t go like that for you! Likely it would go more like this.

(Ring, ring.)

Jay, answering: “Hello, Quine residence (taking no chances this time!).”

God: “Hello, Jay. This is God calling. Yes, the Lord here. I’m calling you because I know you have received and accepted my invitation to be part of my Kingdom, to come to the greatest wedding celebration the universe has ever seen, and I’m asking a few people to pick up a few things on the way.”

Jay: Looking back over his shoulder, “Hey honey, it’s the Lord on the phone! God wants ME to pick something up for the wedding feast!”

“Yeah, sure Lord. What can I bring?” (Right now you’re very thankful you canceled call waiting!) “Do you want me to pick up some dinner rolls or something?”

God: “No, Jay, no. Don’t worry about the bread. I have the bread covered.”

Jay: “Okay. I know what. I’ll bring something to drink. Is that it Lord?”

God: “No, Jay, no. Don’t worry about drinks. I have the wine and the cups already taken care of.”

Jay: “Well Lord, what is it then?”

God: “Jay, I want you to pick up some humility before you arrive.”

Long pause.

Jay: “Uhh, hello Lord? Ummm, why don’t you just let me bring the dessert?”

We want to focus on our DOING things for the Lord, but He wants us to be concerned about our BEING first. What we think about our BEING is reflected in our value system we employ in life. Humility is a foundational life value.

Ephesians 4:2

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Humility. The finest definition of this word is found in Scripture itself. Humility is both being a servant and being realistic about yourself. In other words, humility is being realistic about your service to God in this life. Be real about the gifts entrusted to you, and your progress in the development of those gifts.

Philippians 2:5-11 tells us of Christ’s humility—which was so great that in obedience to the will of the Father, He became a man, a man in the form of a servant, who went to the cross to die for us all. Mark 10:45 explains that Christ went to the cross as a servant; to serve us. Humility thus means being an obedient servant to God with the goal to serve others.

Humility also involves knowing who you are. Don’t think of yourself too lowly (false humility), nor too highly (pride). Be realistic about yourself. Romans 12:3 says, “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.” Be sound in your evaluation about yourself. That is also humility.

So to summarize, humility is a value concerning your realistic contribution in your service to God. It implies allowing others to be involved in contributions you realize you cannot make. Humility triggers many other life values.

God again speaking: “Jay, I want you to pick up some humility: serve Me as you serve others with a realistic evaluation of yourself. Know what you can do. Know what you can’t and must let others do.”

Jay: “Okay, Lord. I hear you.”

The Lord doesn’t just want humility in our basket. He wants us to pick up another item on the way as well—patience. Ephesians 4:2 continues,

Be patient, bearing with one another.

Imagine your at the store to pick up a few items—just a couple of things. You don’t need a shopping cart. You pick up bread, eggs, then remember milk and orange juice…and then oh yeah, coffee, coffee filters, and some chicken. Balancing all this stuff they head for the checker, turn the aisle corner and bamm—I knock into you. Down go the eggs one direction, and the milk your direction! Splat, all over your shoes, pants, and a few stray drops manage to fly up to your cheek. You may say what you will regret! That’s where patience comes in.

God speaking: “Jay, I want you to pick up some patience.”

Okay, so somebody made a mistake; someone made a bad decision on your church board, or your management team at work, or your child made a childish decision. Just be patient. Be humble. And maybe, if you are realistic about yourself, you will find that you may be able to help in just the right way. Patience helps you serve others with that humility you already picked up. It is a value that is foundational for the maturation and function of other values and your gifts.


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