“Not to Think of Himself More Highly . . .

“Not to Think of Himself More Highly . . .

than he ought to think.” Rom. 12:3. It would be heaven on earth if no one thought of himself more highly, either in the church or outside the church.

We can reliably state that all wretchedness is caused by people reaching beyond their measure of faith and life, of light and wisdom. This is why everything ends up on shaky ground, with everything being vague and uncertain. The result is strife and divisions and Babylonian confusion—chaos.

People concern themselves with things they do not understand, with things that have not been wrought by God, with things they have an opinion about, and with things they think and feel and which are absolutely not the things that are true and real. One person thinks one thing and another thinks something else. This is the reason for continuous strife and division.

It is quite evident that God can only speak the truth. He does not say to one person that something is white, to another that it is grey, and to a third person that it is black.

Almost everyone has an opinion about everything and everyone possible, despite the fact that God has not revealed the truth to them about these things. People permit themselves to insist on one thing or another even though they absolutely do not know what their true state is. This is conceit and arrogance.

In the German Bible it is written that we ought not to consider ourselves more than is fitting, which means more than we really are. You cannot possibly use the wisdom you do not possess.

One person has received a greater measure of faith for transformation in his inner man than another and therefore more divine nature as well. Because of this, he can also rightly speak about it more than others.

Speaking out about everything and everyone is absolutely reprehensible! By doing that, you have gone many miles beyond your boundaries. Unfortunately, this is a common thing! Alas, alas! What wretchedness! A common, fitting expression for humble souls is: “I don’t know. I can’t (won’t) say anything about it.” This is highly recommended!

We are to think soberly. It is extremely thoughtless of a person to think that he is competent to speak out about anything and anyone despite the fact that he knows he is not such a great person himself.

Let us make a serious effort always to stay within the measure of faith and true life that God has allotted to us!