Why are we warned, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (Romans 12:3)?

Confident in his authority as an apostle, Paul warned the believers in Rome, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3).

Perhaps more than any of the apostles, Paul could have claimed a superior standing in the church. He was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee (see Acts 23:6), a Roman Jew, raised and educated in Jerusalem. He was carefully trained in Jewish laws and customs under Gamaliel (see Acts 22:3, NLT), a highly honored and respected Pharisee, council member, and teacher of the law. But Paul understood that His status before God was based entirely on the Lord’s grace and mercy and not on bloodline, pedigree, heritage, or any personal merit.

Paul’s teaching in Romans 12:3–8 suggests that there were members of the church in Rome who thought of themselves more highly than they ought. They considered themselves better than others or more privileged than they actually were. Maybe they had the gift of prophecy or teaching (see verses 6–8) and assumed it gave them a position of prominence. Thus, Paul urged the Romans to “think of yourself with sober judgment,” which means to make an honest, accurate, wise, and balanced evaluation of yourself before God.

Thinking of yourself more highly than you ought won’t happen if you genuinely take stock and consider all God has done for you and given you. Paul felt only humble gratitude for God’s mercy in counting him trustworthy to be Christ’s servant. He considered himself the worst of sinners: “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man. . . . The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. . . . I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:12–17).

None of us are worthy of the grace and mercy God has poured out on us in Jesus Christ. None of us are any better than another. True Christian humility avoids self-exaltation. Jesus said, “Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant” (Luke 22:26, NLT). We must have the same attitude as Jesus, who, although He was God, gave up His divine privileges and took the humble position of a slave, lowering Himself to human status and dying on a criminal’s cross (see Philippians 2:5–8).

Paul reminds the Romans that God is the one who places spiritual gifts within Christ’s body—gifts that come from His grace. Every church member has been given a special function, “and we all belong to each other” (Romans 12:5). Rather than thinking of yourself more highly than you ought, Paul writes, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited” (Romans 12:16; see also Ephesians 4:2).

Paul knew better than to take credit for the gifts he had been given: “But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace” (1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT). All glory went to God.

God’s great mercy prompts us to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). We are not to place ourselves on a spiritual pedestal or think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Our gifts are meant to serve one another and build each other up. Peter writes, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). God chooses to use humble servants who count themselves as nothing (1 Corinthians 1:28) and clothe themselves with humility (Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:2; 1 Peter 5:5). He will lift up and honor those who humble themselves before Him (1 Peter 5:6).