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“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6.3).

Thinking is a human capability that is both marvelous and fearsome at the same time. While the ability to think is a wonderful gift it is also implies awesome responsibilities. For that reason, civilized societies establish laws and guidelines of human behavior and then hold their citizens accountable to those laws. When these laws are broken, almost all court systems and judicial venues take into account the intent of the one guilty of breaking the law as well as the capacity of that person to reason clearly. This is the “two-edged sword” of thinking. Perhaps this is the reason James wrote the following: “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (James 3.1).

Consider the term correct thinking. That is really the subject of today’s focus verse. Granted the scope of the verse is somewhat narrow (i.e. how we think about ourselves), but it is nonetheless vital. In fact, I would suggest that unless one has the ability and discipline to think correctly about oneself, the rest is somewhat inconsequential. Regarding the term correct thinking, it suggests that there is such a thing as incorrect thinking. The warning of Galatians 6.3 clearly defines one of the results of incorrect thinking (i.e. self-deception). Furthermore, the Bible also speaks of the eternal penalties of self-deception as we will see in the close of today’s devotional message.

The knowledge of who we are as a class of creatures is important; in fact, just knowing that we are creatures (created beings) is essential. But, further how we fit into the Divine scheme of things is the first step to correct thinking. The Psalmist addressed this point vividly and pointedly when he wrote, “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen—Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8.4-9).

The relationship of God to man and vise versa is the origin point of sobriety (sobriety and correct thinking being used synonymously here). In a verse very similar to today’s text, Paul warned, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (Romans 12.3). The fact that a person can think too highly of one’s self implies a standard against which our thinking is to be judged. If there were no objective standard of thought, then who would have the right to say that his/her thought processes were any better than any one else’s? Yet, the Scriptures clearly affirm that there is right thinking and there is wrong thinking. And, that is not just my opinion; it is a fact taken from the word of God.

My challenge (in fact the challenge of each accountable person) is to insure that I think in a manner that God approves. He wants this because my eternal destiny depends upon the conclusions I reach regarding Him and the sacrifice of His Only begotten Son! If I accept that offering and live faithfully to that profession, heaven will be my eternal reward. If I refuse that offering, I deceive myself and at the same time seal my eternal fate. “O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!”

Questions:

1. How damaging is self-deceit? How easy is it to be self-deceived? How can we avoid self-deceit?

2. Has God provided a “standard of thought” against which we will be judged? If yes, what is it?

3. After reading the 8th Psalm, jot down some of the improper thoughts that men have about themselves and their place in the universe. Also make a list of the blessings that are ours because of the position that is ours as the crowning glory of God’s creative work.

4. What, if anything, does the last sentence of Psalm 8 have to do with right thinking?

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Prov. 27:19