Christian Living

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Humility
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Psychologists informs us that everyone wants to feel important. But on occasion, we get carried away. Jesus’ followers were caught off guard attempting to impress each other with their skills and abilities. Something within them pushed them to try to get a higher position on earth and in the kingdom of God. “Hey here I am! Am I not the greatest person, you’ve ever seen? I have class!” Before long they argued as to who was the greatest follower of Christ. Who was the greatest? Who was the smartest? Tempers and shouting at each other must have risen as they argued as to how much better he was then the other person.

Today’s world is full of people who ask even demand they be noticed and admired—body piercings, tattoos, skimpy clothes, surgery to change what they don’t like about themselves to attract attention to themselves. People whose profession is to advertise a product do not back away from telling the public how great and how much we need their product or products. Anyone who watch sports on television observe players point their fingers in the air, do weird dances or verbally shout that they are number one. Children and teens seem to enjoy being the first person in their neighborhood to do or have something. Adults who can place bumper stickers on their cars that they have an honor student.

Jesus’ response to such activity is the same He gave His followers during His time on earth. In God’s eyes, there is more honor in raising others ahead of yourself than trying to beat down others to get to the top. We are never required to prove a thing to God or to others that we are better than they or anyone else. God does not love us because of a person’s skills, abilities or level of intelligence. But simply because a person is a product of His creation. A creation created out of love.

God does not ask us to put others first because He wants to belittle or embarrass an individual. Instead, it is part of God’s plan to help humankind learn and come to understand humility. That is, to learn to live as we should. God desires us to be so certain of what we do and His love that we do not have to always outdo each other. God would rather humankind work with each other and lend help to each other when it is necessary to do so. In this way, instead of number one or designating those not found to be first or losers, there would be room at the top for every person one and all.

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