Never Think Too Little Or Too Much Of One’s Self

February 19, 2025

There is a great danger in thinking too little of ourselves, and a great danger in thinking too much of ourselves.

When I received an appointment to pastor three churches in Rock Hall, Maryland, a small, waterman community, at the edge of the world, I began to understand this truth for the first time.

I remember struggling with the move to Rock Hall because…

(1) I thought a bit too much of myself, thinking I was too big a pastor, too successful, to be moved to a three-point charge, and…

(2) I thought a bit too little of myself, thinking I was perhaps not seen as a very good pastor or leader to be moved to a three-point charge from the one larger church I had pastored the last seven years.

I believe most of us need to keep this truth in mind, especially when it comes to judging others. We are so quick to judge our neighbor, the person sitting across from us in church, or the person whose actions we hear about on television; yet, over the years, I have learned that none of us are all bad and none of us are all good.

In fact, I have learned from looking in the mirror and from country music (Thank you Jelly Roll) all of us are “…somewhere in the middle…I guess [we’re] just a little right and wrong.”

I remember teaching my boys this lesson when we were exiting the movies.  We went to see The Dark Knight.  In that film, the superhero Batman faces off against his arch-nemesis, The Joker.  The Joker is a homicidal maniac who has killed many innocent people.  In one scene the two fight and the Joker ends up hanging off a fire escape, barely holding on, about to fall to his death.  Batman, a man with a strict moral code, reaches down and saves him, pulls him up, placing him in jail instead of allowing him to fall to his death.

Coming out of the theatre that night, I remember turning to my boys and telling them this is why I needed a Savior. I told them I needed Jesus because I had no doubt that I would have let the Joker fall to his death. I would have probably pushed him. The ability to murder, to hate, to cast aside another life, is in me; in other words, “I am somewhere in the middle…I guess I’m just a little right and wrong.” I must not think too much of myself.

I continue to learn this truth repeatedly, realizing that the older I get the less I know. I must be open to new revelations, recognizing that God’s truth, a relationship with Christ, will challenge my upbringing, my politics, my family traditions, and the way I am living my life.

I remember years ago, deciding to watch a movie I picked up called Bridesmaids, the story of Annie, whose life is turned upside down when she takes on the Maid of Honor role in her best friend’s wedding.  This film won critical acclaim, some hailing it as the best comedy of 2011; it was even nominated for two golden globe awards.

I watched it.  It was filled with sex, language, immorality, crude jokes and many other moments that were completely contrary to the faith I profess. 

The next morning, during my devotional time, I was reading scripture.  The first verse I read was from 2 Corinthians 7, “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.”

Paul’s words to the church in Corinth hit me hard that morning and I realized that I had a choice.

I could think too much of myself and reject the truth I had just read and rationalize or outright rebel against God, joining the surrounding culture.

OR

I could think too little of myself and feel horrible about what I had watched, how I disappointed God and let Him down, and just give up trying to be better.

OR

I could allow God’s Word to convict me and obey, and in this case, confess and ask forgiveness, remembering that, yes, I had sinned and messed up, but also remembering God’s love for me. I could choose to be reminded that God had “chosen" me to step “into his wonderful light.”

God will show each of us how little we know, how messed up our thinking and actions are at times, while also reminding us that we are “chosen” and loved and special in His eyes.