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August 29,
2010
Pastor Dan Selbo
"Living
a Humble Life"
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Dear Friends, Greetings in the name of
our Lord Jesus.
A number of years ago, there
was a tendency in some of our schools, (I don’t know if it’s still
happening today or not), to recognize the achievements of our
children through the use of bumper stickers. (You know the ones.)
“My child was an honor student at Lietz Elementary.” Or “My
grandchild was student of the month at Dartmouth Junior High.” Or
“My daughter was top in her class in mathematics.”
Now, I don’t know about you,
but I’ve always liked the idea of finding ways to encourage our
kids, especially when they’re young. We have a school here at St.
Timothy’s where, ever month in chapel, we recognize a few of the
kids for some of the things they’ve done for others. We tie it to
the theme for the year. (This year it’s “Clothed in Christ.”) And we
call them up front and give them a “Clothed in Christ” certificate.
And it’s a special time for those kids, with some real lasting
value.
Pastor Jim told me that he
was recognized when he was in school. He said he made the Dean’s
list. (He actually said the Dean had two lists.) What he didn’t tell
me was which one he was on.
There’s nothing wrong with recognition.
And who among us doesn’t like to be recognized for what we’ve done.
But when recognition is pushed to its extreme, when it begins to
border on pride and conceit and building one’s self up, and when
somehow it gets tied in with our social standing and status among
our peers, then it can easily (and quickly) become something about
which to be concerned. And that’s what today’s story is all about.
“Living a Humble Life.” Let’s talk for a
few moments about humility. (We’ll get to pride in a minute.) But
let’s start with humility. The word humble means “having a modest
estimate of one’s own importance; not proud; not large or showy or
elaborate; not desiring to draw attention to one’s self.”
For the most part, we’d have to say that
humility is a good thing. Jesus, for example, told the story of the
Pharisee and the publican who both went into the temple to pray. The
Pharisee thanked God that he wasn’t like the publican. The publican
simply prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus said it was
the publican and not the Pharisee, (the one who took a humble
approach in his life) who went home (that day) justified and
forgiven in God’s sight.
And that’s not the only place where the
Bible talks about humility. All throughout the Bible we find
passages encouraging a humble life. The writer of Proverbs says,
“that when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble
there is wisdom.” The psalmist says, “The Lord leads the humble in
what is right, and teaches those with humility his way.”
There’s little doubt (as you
go through the Bible) that humility is a quality after which we are
encouraged to strive. Time after time we find stories of people
whose pride was their downfall. Time and again, we find Jesus
speaking against the dangers of pride and lifting up the importance
of humility.
The trouble is that humility
can be somewhat of an elusive quality. (Have you ever noticed that?)
Even when we think we have it (firmly in our grasp), our pride has a
way of working itself into the picture and pulling it away.
Maybe you remember the song
by Mac Davis, (years ago), sort of a tongue-in-cheek reminder. He
began with the words, “Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re
perfect in every way.”
Now, maybe that’s the
extreme. I doubt if too many of us (here this morning) have to worry
about the trouble of perfection. But the reality is that humility is
not quite as easily achieved as we’d like. It’s even been said that
it’s possible to be proud that you’re humble.
In today’s story, we find
Jesus concerned about the lack of humility, (about the obvious and
apparent pride) found in the lives of those with whom he was sharing
a meal. As with last week, it was the Sabbath, and Jesus was invited
to the home of one of the rulers of the Pharisees.
And what a gathering it must have been.
Some of the most prominent, prestigious, important leaders of the
day were all gathered together. And what a scrambling (for position)
there was among the guests. For many, this was the perfect setting
to rub shoulders with the elite, to drop names in order to get
ahead, and to scratch the backs of those with whom they wanted to
make an impression.
But Jesus was not impressed. He was not
impressed in the least. In fact, he was angry. He was upset. He was
anything but pleased with what he saw. And so he (used the occasion)
to tell a story, to warn them against seeking the highest positions,
(the most visible places of honor), and rather, to choose for
themselves the lowest places, the least obvious positions of
recognition. “For those who exalt themselves,” Jesus says, “will be
humbled, and those humble themselves will be exalted.”
“Living a Humble Life.” What
does it mean for us, as followers of Jesus, to live humble,
God-pleasing lives? Is there a secret to being humble, living as we
do in a world filled with incentive for gaining status and
recognition and prestige? I believe there is. And it starts with our
relationship with God.
Go through the Bible sometime. In fact,
it’s an interesting study, (if you were to go through from beginning
to end) and pick out all of the passages that talk about the
relationship we have with God and about the place (that
relationship) is supposed to hold in our lives.
We’re to “love God above everything
else” (the Bible says), “with all of our heart and our strength and
our mind.” We’re to have “no other gods apart from him.” The number
one priority in life, the single most important reason (you and I
have) to live.
What a difference it would make in our
world, if God were given his proper place, as creator, as sustainer,
as the one who controls and determines and allows (and brings to an
end) all of life. (Now, he holds that place. He’ll never give up his
place.) But he’s not always given his place. What a difference it
would make it in our world (if it were to happen). What a difference
it would make (for us) even in the church, if God were truly given
the place (in our lives) he deserves.
It’s an interesting study, all of the
passages that speak about God being first and foremost in life. It’s
also interesting how (if you were to do the same thing with passages
that speak about our relationship with others), how interconnected
the two become.
We’re to “love God with heart and
strength and mind.” And we’re to “love our neighbor (Jesus says) as
we love ourselves.” We’re to show our love for God by living out our
love for one another. The God “we cannot see” (the Bible says) is
loved “by caring for the neighbor we can.”
In the Ten Commandments, it’s the same
thing. The first three deal with our relationship with God (first
and foremost in life). The last seven deal with the relationship we
have with our neighbor. Of all the commandments Jesus said, (and
there were a lot) these two are the most important.
Now, put all of that together (relate it
to the story today) and what do you get? Loving God above everything
else? Putting our neighbor (and his or her needs) ahead of our own?
Jockeying for position? Trying to make a show and impression for
others?
My friends, there is no room for a false
pride when it comes to the Christian life. There is no room for a
fake pride when it comes to being a follower of Jesus. In fact, when
it comes to pride, it’s a dangerous and a slippery slope. So much so
that once you get on, (it’s almost impossible) to get off.
Now, as Christians (and we’ve talked
about this before), there’s nothing wrong with being proud of what
we’re doing. (Don’t miss the point.) There’s nothing in the Bible
that speaks against being proud of who you are. As disciples of
Jesus, there are all kinds of reasons for your being proud in the
Christian life.
I’m proud (for example) of this
congregation. I’m proud of the witness we are giving in this
community. I’m proud of our school, and of our teachers, and of the
things we’ve accomplished in the first three years of our 2020
Vision. I’m proud of the stance we’ve taken on some difficult
issues. I’m proud of the fact that we’re not afraid to talk about
church-body affiliation and about what that might mean for our
shared life. There’s nothing wrong with being proud in the Christian
life of who we are and what we’ve been called to do. Of whose we are
and what we’ve become (and can become) in him.
But pride can so easily become that
slippery slope, (hard to get off). And when that happens, not only
can it do damage to the relationships we have with others, but it
can also stand in the way of our relationship with God.
Pride has destroyed more marriages than
any other single factor you could find. It’s destroyed families.
It’s destroyed relationships at work. It’s destroyed businesses.
It’s destroyed nations. It’s destroyed churches. It can even destroy
a person’s faith. On every level, if it’s not kept in its proper
place, pride can destroy life.
But when God is placed first (and
there’s the key), given his proper place in life, and when the
wellbeing of others is placed second, always looking out for what’s
best for the neighbor, then there’s nothing of which to be afraid.
And so how does it happen in the
Christian life? (Let’s get practical for a few minutes.) How do we
stay humble in our relationship with God and with others? (Because
it’s not something that comes naturally for most of us.) And it’s
certainly not automatic.
If we’re going to do it, we’ll need some
help. And not just some help (in general), but some help from the
one who humbled himself for us.
And so, before closing today (very
quickly), let me give you three simple ways to live the kind of
humble life God is calling you to live. Here’s the first, (number
one), follow the example of Jesus. (Follow the example of Jesus.)
Now, there are many places (in the
Bible) we could look to find examples of how Jesus humbled himself
in life. Washing his disciple’s feet, reaching out to those in need,
serving those who had nothing in return to give.
Do you remember what Paul says about
Jesus, and about the example he’s given us in life? In his letter to
the Philippians, chapter two, he says, “Have this mind among
yourselves (he says) which is yours in Christ Jesus. Who though he
was in the form of God…he humbled himself, became obedient unto
death, even death on a cross.”
Now, do you know what we call that
theologically, (Jesus coming to this earth as one of us)? We call it
his “humiliation” (his humiliation). Not in a degrading way, but in
an uplifting way. Not in a way that limited what Jesus could do with
his life, but in a way that allowed God the Father to use his life.
Jesus humbled himself. He became one of us. He gave up his godliness
and became a man.
Now, do you know what that means
(practically)? It means Jesus was seated at the head table. He had
the place of honor right next to God. But rather than sit there and
enjoy it, he gave it up. He walked away. He took off his tux and
became a waiter, (a servant), all the way to the cross. He humbled
himself. He went from as high as you could get to as low as you
could go. And he did it for you and for me.
If you want to learn humility, learn
what it means to set aside the kind of pride that can destroy life,
a good place to start is by looking to Jesus. He’s our example. He’s
the model. He’s the one after which we’ve been called to emulate and
to follow.
Start by looking to Jesus (as your
example), the one after whom you’re to pattern your life. From
there, remember the place you already have. (Remember the place you
already have.)
My friends, don’t ever forget that
you’ve already been exalted. You already belong to God. Now, I know
we know that. (You know that.) But we have a tendency to forget it.
(Don’t forget it.) You’re his child. You’re eternally precious and
valuable to him. Because of Jesus, you already have a place of
honor. How much more exalted do you want to become?
You tell me. Who are the ones (more
often than not) in this life who need to brag and to boast and to
blow their own horns? Are they not the ones who are also the most
insecure, who (deep down) don’t feel much value and self-worth?
So what if I have to compromise in an
argument with a friend? So what if I have to swallow my pride and
admit that perhaps I do have something to learn? So what if I have
to say ‘I’m sorry’ or (God forbid) ‘I was wrong?’ Does that change
my place and position in life (before God)? Of course not. (And why
not?) Because the place and position you have before God isn’t based
on your life, but upon the life, death, and resurrection of his Son.
And that will never change.
Look to Jesus as your example. Remember
the place you already have. And ask God’s Spirit for help.
Honestly, I think one of the reasons so
many of us have so much trouble in this area of life is that we try
to do it on our own. (And how ironic.) Even in trying to be humble,
we let our pride stand in the way of asking for help. But the truth
is that we need the help, and we have the help. And it comes through
God’s Holy Spirit.
You remember the list. It’s the fruit of
the Spirit. It’s “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.”
Now, when you think about it, all of
those are qualities of a person who is humble. All of those are
characteristics of one who is not trying to exalt (him or herself)
at the expense of others. With the Holy Spirit (working in our
lives) the fruit begins to grow. And when that happens, we actually
begin to take on the kind of humility that was modeled for us (in
his life) by Christ.
My friends, (in closing) I don’t want it
to sound too simple, because it’s not. But it’s time to get
practical in living a humble life. And it’s not as difficult as it
might seem. Look to Jesus (as your example). Remember the place you
have (you’ve already been exalted by Christ). And ask God’s Holy
Spirit for help. Unless, of course, (that is) that you’re too proud
to even try. Amen.
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