Thinking You Are Something

“Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.” 1 Cor. 8:1-3.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10:12.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Gal. 6:2-3.

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” 1 Cor. 3:18.

Here it is clearly evident that those who think they are something are also conceited. They express their opinions about everything and everyone. They are not working out their salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2:12. They do not abide in love. They may be self-sacrificing, generous, hospitable, etc., and because of all their serving they may have a name of being alive, but they may well be dead. Rev. 3:1. All those who think they are something, have sought their own. You can hear in that self-assured manner in which they speak that they think they know something or are something. They have fallen out of love and cannot serve unto edification. Love alone can edify, and the gifts are of value only if they are used in the service of love. Love does not seek its own; it bears all things. 1 Cor. 13.

The Corinthians had deceived themselves. They had become satisfied and rich, they had even become lords, but they had come out of fellowship with Paul as well as with each other! This is typical of all those who think they are something. They lose fellowship and are dissatisfied and critical. They are also dissatisfied with the servants whom Jesus, who is the Head, has given to the church, and so they speak and gossip with those who are on the periphery in whom they think they can safely confide.

We are called to come together and build one another up. 1 Thess. 5:11. For this there is freedom in the church, all according to the effective working by which every part does its share. It is the Head who apportions and supplies. Eph. 4:11-16. The person who cares, who sees needs and mistakes and abides in love, receives grace to serve so that they all can increase and be edified in love. Then he is also an example. 1 Tim. 4:12.

Those people who think they are something usually speak about being independent. They don’t need to receive counsel; they would rather do something on their own without the person whom God has put in the church as the overseer. Quite often they also find fault with the person who has been put into the ministry. Those who think they are something don’t think that it is necessary for them to be obedient.

We have examples in the Bible which show that such people who were appointed overseers can begin to lord it over the flock; they can fall from their first love; they can fail in their ministry, so that they permit all kinds of things. If someone sees this, he must not go around and speak about it to people who are not spiritual and who do not have any authority to correct matters—doing this is an activity that does not tolerate the light. If you see anything that you think is wrong, you must go directly to the overseer, or take a spiritual person with you. Then everything will come to the light. Moreover, we must not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 1 Tim. 5:19.

If you think what the elder is doing is wrong, then you can go to him and ask for an explanation without speaking to anyone else. Perhaps you are not so spiritual that you understand the matter, but you can be helped when you go to him. This does not mean that you are stubborn and rebellious. It means that you are walking in the light. But going and talking in secret in order to get support, that is backbiting.

All of this is easy to understand if you do not think that you are something but are abiding in love. Let us, with profound humility, follow Paul who says, “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” 1 Cor. 3:7. God will also give the increase if we keep this attitude. Building the body of Christ—a church that will be presented to Him in glory, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish—shall succeed. Eph. 5:27.

Sigurd Bratlie