Who supports who? Romans 11:17-18

Romans 11:17-18 (ESV)
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

An interesting question to ask yourself is – am I essential to the Kingdom of God?

The answer, which comes quickly, should be ‘no’.

You are not essential. Wanted? Yes. Loved? Yes. More important than the other members?

Not so much.

God loves you, and God has called you to do something for Him, for His glory. To do that, He has also empowered you, and gifted you. He supports you continually, that you can do what you are called to do.

But do you see the key there? He supports you. He gifted you. He empowers you. Some of us, especially those of us who might stand up in front of a congregation and preach or teach, might be tempted to think of ourselves as more important than others. Maybe you are the worship leader, or you are an elder, a member of the board. These are things that God has gifted to you to do for His glory.

The moment it becomes your glory rather than His, you are no longer doing it for God – you are doing it for yourself. The moment you think of yourself more highly than others, any others at all, you have exalted yourself higher than you truly are. Even worse, you are claiming what God has given you as your own, and therefore setting yourself higher than God!

Romans 12:3-5 (ESV)
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

God has called you and gifted you for something – so do that something in all humility, knowing that it is for God’s glory, not your own. For the moment you exalt yourself, God can empower, gift and equip someone else for that work that you do. You are but a branch, and it is still the root that supports you.

Heavenly father, help us to all be humble, trusting in you always. Teach us not to be proud of the things that we do, falsely thinking we have done them in our own strength, with our own wisdom and our own power, but remind us constantly that it is through You that our strength comes, it is through you that our talents come, it is through you that we are daily empowered to do what You have called. Help us to direct all glory to you as is fitting, rather than try and steal it for ourselves. Help us to be humble, and not to think more highly of ourselves than we should. Convict us that we might be right before you, rather than trying to be exalted before others. In Jesus Name. Amen.