Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Today, there is a saying; ‘you can’t learn to love someone unless you first learn to love yourself.’ This common saying is meant to infer that the only way a person can love another, is that they must FIRST put themselves FIRST. God’s Word of truth teaches the complete opposite from this thinking. And as we are taught in Romans chapter 12, and Philippians chapter 2, we are taught to value and esteem others “better than” ourselves. And this we are taught because as Saints who are to walk in godliness, the Lord Himself also walked with this selfless mind. We are taught to walk in “lowliness of mind,” this “mind” and thinking is contrary to what this world says our focus ought to be upon. The Apostle Paul walked with this mind, and this is according to godliness that is after our Lord’s selfless mind.
Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Therefore, the mind that this world is operating upon comes from what took place in the garden, Adam took upon himself a ‘thinking,’ and knowledge that caused him to ‘do something for himself.’ And what Satan gave unto Adam was that if they were to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, then their “eyes shall be opened,” and they will “be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Where is there service unto God, and being educated by Him in what Satan ‘laid out’ for Adam and Eve? What they ‘lusted’ after concerned the “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, the pride of life,” and this is this ‘selfish’ thinking goes against godliness, and the “mind of Christ.” And notice the Apostle Paul’s thinking concerning his life, purpose, and the ministry, and for the sakes of our Lord and for the Saints in the verses below.
1Co 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
1Co 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
1Co 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
1Co 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1Co 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1Co 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
Moreover, notice Paul’s ‘out of this world’ thinking, Paul warns them about this selfish carnal thinking. Today, many think that they are ‘blessed of God’ if they too possessed the things in verse 10. But many will also say that if they were going through the things written in verse 11, 12, and 13, they will assume that God is ‘testing their faith,’ or maybe ‘they just need to get closer to God.’ But Paul gloried in those things mentioned, and this was the “holy, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” This brought God glory, this is why Paul says that he will “bless,” “suffer it,” and that he will “intreat,” but notice what Paul says in verse 13, “we are made as.” This is an identity as what this world views as the “filth of this world.” This world “made” Paul all those things in their sight, this was because he was not of this world, he placed no “confidence in the flesh” as they did.
2Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
And so, godliness values and esteems others “better” than themselves, and ‘self-esteem’ goes contrary against godliness, and works contrary to what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Our Lord Jesus Christ did not teach His Apostles a ‘self-esteem/self-love’ life, this type of life yields no service unto God, and cannot please God, but this thinking always looks to God to do things for them, and ‘please them’ according to what they desire. This type of preaching that the ‘blessed’ of God are those who have the worldly possessions, and great lifestyle, even though popular, is not according to godliness, but is according to the carnal mind. And this thinking will also be ‘thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think,’ God desires that we walk in godliness, and “think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. “
2Co 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2Co 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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