Eph. 3:8 ... "To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ."
In this statement Paul takes a liberty that he cautioned against in II Cor. 10:12, where he urged Christians not to "measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves." In that context he was warning against the tendency to compare oneself with someone who seemed to be inferior in order to exalt oneself and boast. Paul resorts to the comparison in this context, but the result is neither self-exaltation nor boasting. Much to the contrary, after putting his life up against "all saints," he declares himself to be "the very least." He recalled the time when he scorned the name of Christ and vigorously persecuted the church. He could not raise himself above those who had never tried to inflict harm upon the Divine Cause, not even when, before they became Christians, they were not supporters of it. Although an apostle by the will of God and not man (Gal. 1:1), Paul felt himself inferior to fellow Christians who were not apostles, but who had never been overt, avowed enemies of the Lord.
What we see in this remarkable statement by a man of superior capacities, (many have called him a genius), is profound humility. Here was a preacher who applied his own teaching to himself in earnest, for it was he who wrote in Php. 2:3-4, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." Paul had much to boast about. He had seen the risen Lord in the zenith of the sky (Acts 9). He had received revelations of surpassing greatness and had even been "caught up into Paradise," the "third heaven" (II Cor. 12:7, 2, 4). But he did not permit these extraordinary distinctions lead him to pride and arrogance, for he knew well that God hates the "proud look" (Pro. 6:17 KJV). Furthermore, Paul had learned Christian love and had clothed his heart with its beautiful mantle. Such love "does not brag and is not arrogant" (I Cor. 13:4). In the effort to be loved by God and then be able to share that love with others through his ministry, he humbled himself before God and man. With respect to other Christians, even those of the least ability and lowest standing, he considered it his privilege and joy to sacrifice his life in order to promote their faith.
We need people in the church today who possess the humility of Paul. Perhaps this need is most acute among those who minister publicly like Paul did. Each one who serves in such a capacity should search his heart to determine whether he covets the attention and praise of the church to promote his career, or whether he performs his work to please God and best use the talents God has given him. Those whose motive is, in reality, self-exaltation exhaust their reward as that attention, praise, and a "following" of brethren come to them (Mat. 6:2, 5, 16). Once there was a meeting of preachers and leaders from a wide area to honor an elderly preacher who had served the Lord for above sixty years. The purpose of the gathering, however, had been kept secret from him. Several men were asked to come to the platform, among whom was this white-haired and somewhat stooped gentleman. As he started up the steps, the whole assembly, by prearrangement, rose and began a great ovation. But the elderly man instinctively stepped aside to usher the man behind him up to the platform. The thought did not occur to him that the honor was for himself. How touching his humility! How powerful his quiet, unassuming example! How much had he absorbed the mind of Christ, instead of just preaching it from the pulpit with the ulterior motive of eliciting the attention, praise, and awe of a multitude. The Lord proclaims in Isa. 66:2, "To this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word." We all would do well to pay heed to this exhortation.
