Be Bold and Humble

"Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another... Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor." (Galatians 5:26, 6:2-4)

        As we attempt to navigate human relationships, we are so quick (at least I am) to fall into a pattern of relating to others on the basis of comparison: in other words, where we stand in relation to others (whether "above" or "below") shapes our interactions and attitudes towards these individuals. Whether with envy or conceit, jealousy or disdain, our tendency to "rank" ourselves in relation to others cripples our ability to love as Christ loved us, dying for us while we were still sinners (read: while we were way "below" Him.  Fortunately, Jesus didn't utilize our self-ranking system!!). The path between self-confidence and self-loathing is narrow, and sometimes it feels like we can't step out of one camp without stepping into the other. Reading Tim Keller's commentary on this passage in his study on Galatians, I was captured by this passage on the transformative power of the gospel to offer us a way out of this trap:

"It [the gospel] humbles me before anyone, telling me I am a sinner saved only by grace. But it emboldens me before anyone, telling me I am loved and honored by the only eyes in the universe that really count. So the gospel gives a boldness and a humility that do not eat each other up, but can increase together." (Galations, Study 12, p. 90)

        At first, boldness and humility seem to be characteristics which contradict one another, but the gospel makes it possible for these two qualities to not only exist simultaneously, but to "increase together." What a miracle! 

        As I meditate on this truth, I am so grateful that the Lord sees me as I am and loves me regardless. I am grateful that ultimately, my worth has nothing to do with my neighbor, but is defined by the Lord and so precious to Him that He died to save me from having to prove it myself. What a release! No longer caught in the pendulum between envy and conceit, let us walk boldly and humbly, always looking to Christ for our example and approval. Happy Saturday!