Read
4Silver must be purified
before it can be used
to make something of value.
5Evil people must be removed
before anyone can rule
with justice.
6 Don't try to seem important
in the court of a ruler.
7It's better for the ruler
to give you a high position
than for you to be embarrassed
in front of royal officials.
Be sure you are right
8before you sue someone,
or you might lose your case
and be embarrassed.
Reflect
All too often we want people to know our accomplishments in order to gain acceptance into certain circles, satisfying our ego and solidifying our social status. It’s a pride-filled exercise that, while possibly putting us in places we wish to be, we should be wary of. Jesus warns that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11).
I was at an event once where a man seated at my table went on and on about his company being a major sponsor of the Olympic Games. He bragged about the athletes he’d met and the VIP treatment he was going to receive. He was grandiose and grating. It was all I could do not to blurt out that the quiet woman next to me was a two-time Olympian and was actually competing in the games that he was gloating about. She politely ate her meal without saying a word. Several others at the table also knew the truth, but didn’t offer up the information either. In an act of mercy, someone finally pointed out the Olympic athlete sitting at the table and the man’s face turned a few shades of red. He was certainly humbled in that moment.
What made an impact on me was the Olympian. She wasn’t looking for recognition. She didn’t demand a prominent seat. She had the ultimate bragging rights at that event and didn’t use a single one. When I asked her why she didn’t put him in his place sooner she said, “People like that are everywhere! I just keep my head down and do my job.” And that’s exactly what Jesus tells us to do. If we focus on the task before us, humbly and diligently, we will be exalted. If we choose to exalt ourselves, we can expect to eat a big piece of humble pie!
Respond
Heavenly Father, thank you for being the Great I Am. Please help us keep our own accomplishments in perspective so that we may cultivate humility that permeates our lives and brings us closer to Jesus. In your name we pray, Amen.
Julie Fitz-gerald
Julie Fitz-Gerald is a freelance journalist, writer and editor based in Uxbridge, Ontario. She has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Ryerson University and writes about diverse topics from faith to food to clean water. As a regular contributor to Faith Today, as well as numerous trade publications, she is inspired by the stories she gets to tell. Julie’s business has grown over the years to include corporate writing and editing services, ghost writing and book editing.