SCRIPTURE: Job 25
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
God is powerful and dreadful. He enforces peace in the heavens. Who is able to count his heavenly army? Doesn’t his light shine on all the earth? How can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone born of a woman be pure? God is more glorious than the moon; he shines brighter than the stars. In comparison, people are maggots; we mortals are mere worms. [Job 25:2-6]
I remember Lewis Smedes speaking about “worm theology”, the kind of thinking that is expressed in the much-loved song “Amazing Grace” – that saved a wretch like me!
His concern was that if people focus too much on their wretchedness, they will actually think of themselves as less than they are, less than even God thinks of them.
I honestly believe that we are corrupted by sin, that our spiritual center is defective and that it messes up how we think, how we feel and how we behave.
I sincerely believe that there is something in the world, something wrong in us, something wrong in me.
And as a result of this defective being, I am a “sinner”, with wretched, worm-like qualities.
You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. [Matthew 7:9-11]
But we should never forget that though our nature is now sinful, and we are guilty of wretched, worm-like things, we are still God’s much-loved children.
I may at times act like a maggot; and I may in comparison with God’s infinite being be like a maggot; but I am not a maggot, I am not a worm.
We should not think of ourselves as better than we are (I am not God, I am not perfect); neither should we think of ourselves as less than we are (I am not a maggot, I am not worthless).
Some people have a high self-esteem, others have a low self-esteem; what we need is an honest self-esteem.
Paul urges an honest self-appraisal: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us [Romans 12:3].
I prefer to speak of God-esteem rather than self-esteem, to see ourselves as God sees us.
Yes, according to Jesus, we are “sinful people”…
But God is still our Father and we are still His children.
He loves us and considers us precious, worthy of His compassion.
May this message take root in our hearts and minds; may this be the encouragement that we offer to those who are struggling around us!
PRAYER:
Lord, help me not to follow Bildad in his “worm theology”. I know my sin, I know the wretched things that live in me. But I am Your much-loved child, and You are at work to renew and restore me! Grant me a healthy, honest self-esteem!