Self-centeredness comes to us early in our lives and unchecked, stays for the duration. One friend lamented to me years ago about a mutual friend, “He doesn’t know that I have children or what their names are. He lives in a world bounded on all sides by himself.” Regrettably, this can be true of all of us at one time or another. We are wired to look out for our own self-interest. How do we get out of it?
First Jesus teaches his disciples not to assert themselves in taking the first position at a banquet. Next, Jesus shows the way. The part of the Bible we are memorizing these days is found in Philippians 2:5-13 where we learn that Jesus, “was in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own benefit. Rather, he made himself nothing, by taking the very nature of servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” This week especially we are so grateful that Jesus gave his life for us. Later in this same chapter, Jesus said to his disciples that they would have to hate their lives by comparison to their love for him. Further, they would have to count the cost of following him and carry their own crosses.
Here is an inescapable principle in life. People who exalt themselves are humbled. The corollary is, those who humble themselves will be exalted. James, the brother of Jesus, personalized it this way, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up.” Years ago I made a wrong turn as the deacons followed me to a meeting. We ended up in the pre-school room and we sat on tiny little chairs. We laughed together as we realized how hard it would be to become “high and mighty” pontificating from a pre-school chair. When we see ourselves from God’s point of view, humility will not be hard to find.
