Unlimited: Sober Judgment
Jul 7, 2023 538
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you (Romans 12:3b).
Paul is here telling us two very important truths which we don’t often consider. The first truth, often expressed in the Bible, is that faith isn’t something we do, but instead is a gift that we receive from God. The second truth is that our good judgment is proportional to our faith.
The word “sober” has to do with having a sound, or right, mind. It is, for example, the opposite of being possessed by demons (e.g. Mark. 5:15; Luke 8:35.) Paul uses the word “sober” to describe the kind of thinking that characterises a person of faith.
Our good judgment is proportional to our faith.
This verse tells us that faith is a gift from God, which God has given to every believer. Faith is the very first gift that we receive, for our justification through God’s grace. Faith is also the gift that unlocks all other gifts, as Paul will discuss in the following verses. When we understand this, our judgment about ourselves will be sober.
The way that a follower of Jesus regards himself in relation to others isn’t based on a sense of a striving for superiority. This is what the world teaches. Instead, a follower of Jesus will think of themselves in terms of how they have been saved, and how who they are today is entirely a gift from God.
Spiritual Application
What do you do to try to increase your faith? Do you pray more? Do you read your Bible more? These are good things to do, but if faith is a gift, isn’t it simply received? Ask God for a greater portion of the gift of faith.
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