I read a great little book a few months back by Graham Standish that deals with a subject which is quite contrary to our “American Idol” pop culture. It is the subject of humility. Standish writes:

We are distinct and special not because of any qualities or abilities we
ourselves possess. Our unique qualities are gifts from God that come from God’s Spirit breathed into us. What makes us unique is nothing we do by our own power, but only what God has given us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Sin emerges as we cultivate the belief that our uniqueness is due to our own efforts independent of God.

Ouch! Our culture tells you, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it,” “It’s all about the bling,” and “Vote for me to be your idol.” Sure, it’s Hollywood, but unfortunately those attitudes aren’t only found in celebrities. They cross over into the lives of people who say that they want to become more like Jesus…people like you and me. So often, uniquely gifted believers forget from whom their gifts came, and start to believe that they are actually responsible for what God has given to them. On the flip side, Standish writes, “The humble person sees their abilities as a gift from God, not as evidence of personal greatness.”

He goes on to state, “Humility is also the willingness to become God- and other-focused rather than being narcissistically self focused. It means willingly following the guidance of the Spirit wherever it leads. Finally, it means becoming a servant of God and others.” Our culture tells us to be self focused and to look out for our own best interest, but we must do the opposite. We must live our lives in the way Jesus would have us live. We must live for others.

So, as you go through your day, are you living for yourself, or for those whom God places in front of you? Are you patting yourself on the back for how clever you are, or are you giving God the credit for the good things that happen in your life? I’m not saying that we can’t be proud and pleased when we work hard and achieve something great, but let’s never forget that the abilities we have come from Him and are given to us to use for His glory. So, once again, are you living for yourself, or for others?

This is a tough question to ask, especially now with so much uncertainty in our country, our jobs, and our bank accounts. We all feel the need to make sure that we and our families are taken care of. However, Christ also calls us to the higher road. We are to choose charity over self-interest, serving over being served, and humility over self-promotion. Yes, there is risk and the possibility of personal loss. But as Standish writes, “I discovered that when we humbly do what Christ calls us to do, God finds a way to make things work out in the end.” I believe He will.

posted by:
John Plastow
Executive Pastor of Worship Arts