Humility
It wasn't until I found myself in mid air that I realized running on an icy sidewalk with my hands deep inside my short pockets wasn't the best of ideas. As I felt my feet give way underneath me, hands tucked securely in my pockets for warmth, I was defenseless against the inevitable fall. Ground:1, Adam: 0.
As if falling and landing flat on my back weren't enough, I had to listen to the groans of others that witnessed the less than athletic spectacle. "Oh! Are you ok!?!" "Woah! Oh man, are you alright?" Although I can now appreciate the concern and compassion, the attention was very much unwanted at the time. One thing ice and life have in common, they both have a keen ability to humble you at any moment.
I'm sure you can recall a time when you were embarrassed and humbled beyond your own liking. No-one likes to be embarrassed, it takes a toll on the ol' pride and ego. Humility however is something that receives a lot of air time in the bible. Humility clears the overly crowded path of self righteousness to a wonderful relationship with others and with God. We can all point to a person we respect that exhibits humility very well, but unfortunately we can all likely point to a person who thinks quite highly of themselves as well.
Somewhere along the way, their priority shifted from serving God to serving their own self worth and importance. With their eyes focused on their mirror and the onlooking faces of others, they will never truly be focused on God. I think for me, the larger the "worldly importance," the more refreshing humility is when it's readily apparent. It's easy to be humble when you're lying on your back in the ice, but to remain humble and kind after the realization of great "successes" or recognition, often proves more difficult.
Humility can be defined as, "a modest or low view of one's own importance." Not to be confused with weak, insecure, or incapable, it's quite the opposite. It's having the ability to act like a jerk and refraining from doing so. If anyone could have thrown around their significance and importance on Earth, its was our main man, Jesus. However, what do we see when examining His life, what does He teach throughout His life...absolute humility. His humility was embodied not only in His teachings but in His walk from a lowly manger to a criminal's cross. He knew well His role and importance in relation to His Father, so why is that so difficult for us?
Jesus isn't the only one in the bible that displays a likable humility. Take Luke as another example. Luke was a medical doctor, but never touted his profession in his writings. Luke wrote the longest and arguably the most detailed of the gospels, giving us unbelievable insight into Jesus' birth and the miraculous healings He performed. Luke also wrote the book of Acts and despite his important missionary travels, he never once, not one time, mentions himself by name. At most he refers to his time with Paul by saying "we." As frustrating as it is for someone to claim credit for something they didn't do, it's far more powerful for someone to deny and downplay the role they played in something amazing.
In the age of selfie sticks and social media, when popularity and publicity are often our daily focus and drug, we (myself squarely included) have to remain humble. In defeat we have to remember and honor Jesus. In success we have to remember and honor Jesus. Jesus after all was a humble servant king. Jesus was the son of God who deserved to be first, but willingly put himself last. He was the Savior who fed hungry stomachs and washed dirty feet. In the book of Micah we are taught to "act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Walk...Humbly...I wish I would have taken that sage advice on an icy evening in 1991, while running into a Boys Club Basketball game. Oh, humility.
Much Love, Adam
Comments
Post a Comment