Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)
Remember that kid who always asked to be line leader in grade school? No child begs to be in the middle of the line or at the end (unless there are special privileges to being last). We’re trained from childhood to speak louder, to expect attention, to push our way to the front. Humility has gone the way of meekness: an archaic affectation that may be endearing but will never advance your place in society.
Humility is counterintuitive, contrary to culture, and unconventional. So why does the Bible call us to it (for example, Luke 14:11; Phil. 2:3)? Because our value lies in His estimation of us, not in our boss’s, the world’s, or anyone else’s. Our humility says there’s something more important than ourselves: the Creator! In humility, Jesus died for us (Phil. 2:6–8), disregarding the mob who crowned Him and thwarted even His disciples, who sought a political Messiah.
A humble lifestyle makes much of God and discounts the self (John 3:30). God is glorified when we allow someone to “cut in line.” Our coworkers are blessed when we share the credit on a project or volunteer for an extra shift to replace a sick team member. God uses our humility for humanity’s good and His glory as those kindnesses create opportunities to speak a word of truth into others’ lives.
Celebrate your present position, even if it’s near the end of the line.
Carole Sparks is passionate about God’s Word and how it impacts our everyday lives! After years of globetrotting, she now lives and writes in East Tennessee.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
