HUMILITY MATTERS

It was his first day as a general. For years his one goal was to pin a star on his shoulder. Sitting behind his desk for the first time, with his personal flag behind him, he felt as though he had finally “arrived.” He was anxious to impress his staff with his accomplishment.

There was a knock on his door, and he shouted, “Enter.” He reached for his phone, and wanting to impress the men who were quietly walking into his office, said, “Thank you, Mr. President, for calling. It was good to speak with you. Yes, sir. Goodbye.” He then hung up the phone.

Turning to the men before him, he asked, “And now, men, what can I do for you?”

“Yes, sir, thank you, sir. I’m your aide, and these men have come to connect your phone.”

There is nothing wrong with wanting to succeed. But there is something wrong with wanting to succeed for selfish, self-seeking, self-centered reasons. Pride brings with it the idea that we deserve whatever we can get. It creates a greedy appetite within us and leads us to believe that we should have whatever we can get or should have whatever we want in life. It makes us want far more than we need and leaves us unsatisfied with what we have. Sometimes God has to humiliate us to teach us humility. “Pride comes before a fall!”

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to trust You for our needs, to be satisfied with what we have, and to be thankful for Your love. May we be covered with humility and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6