Thoughts on Romans 12; Outdo One Another

"Outdo one another in showing honor."

To outdo is to "surpass in execution or performance". Honor is described as "honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions".

 "Let your light shine"... not make your light shine. Yes, this comes to mind again as we look at this verse. Outdo -doesn't that mean that we'll have to be comparing ourselves to others? Might this mean that we are to strive to be best? How does this work out anyway?

"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." "Never be wise in your own sight."

We are not to be pridefully satisfied if we think we are "doing better", or settle back because, we might think we've passed a few others by. And we are not to simply take a more seasoned fellow traveler's guide without a careful look at the road map we've been given. With our eyes focused on Christ, we're not being told to sneak glances at our neighbor to make sure we are one step above them. We aren't out to beat each other. We are to be watching for ways to serve one another with no thought of what we can get out of it. Eager to do for others, and not willing to take anything from them without paying our debts. Not waiting for others to make the first move, but eagerly looking, not at who isn't doing, but at what we can do. Keeping our focus on Christ's glory, and doing what he sends without thought of self.

"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 10:43-45