Monday, August 1, 2011 - It's Hard to Be Humble When You're Only Human

"For who makes you different from anyone else? 

What do you have that you did not receive? 

And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 

1 Corinthians 4:7

     We were at a large party once when a friend told the group around us a joke. All but one person laughed, but later we heard this same "unimpressed" person telling my friend's joke to another group. He never mentioned where he heard the joke, but took full credit. It's a little thing, but grabbing credit reveals an undeveloped area of our character. 

     A visiting revival preacher once challenged the congregation to omit the words "my," "mine," "our," and "ours" from conversation and thoughts for the rest of the day as an exercise in humbly remembering the Giver. We failed this assignment before we were in the car heading home. You try it and see how hard it is to carry on a conversation without saying smugly "my child," "my grandchild," "my husband," "my car," "our house," etc., etc. (Oh, but I'm generous when handing out blame or responsibility: "Tom, your dog is hungry and needs to be fed;" and the ever popular "It's his/her fault." )

     First Corinthians 4:7 (top of blog) slaps us back into remembering the Christlike attitude we're to adopt toward talents, gifts, and material blessings. All good gifts are God's and we have no business hoarding them, hiding them, or boasting about them. Ironic, isn't it, that we have to work to be humble, meek recipients and managers of God's treasures when we're only human and would have nothing without Him?  

"Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD;

the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." 

Isaiah 29:19

"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way."

Psalm 25:9

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

Thank You, Lord, for Your gifts and forgive us our pride in what we could never accomplish or have without You. You saved us from hell, saved us to heaven and You still throw in 10,000 undeserved blessings to make this an abundant life. Show us what to do with whatever You give us. Don't let us hide Your treasure like the faithless servant who buried his master's talent. On the other hand, keep us from acting as though we deserve and have rights to Your Grace-gifts. Teach us how to use the specific gifts, talents and material assets You give us for Your Glory and not our own. 

In the Name of Jesus Who humbled Himself and never took personal credit, but gave You all the Glory!

Inspired by Living Loved by Max Lucado

Image from Google images