Humility Before Honor

Humility before Honor

Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12 (NIV)

I once had an Amish friend tell me that one of the hardest things he faced was not to become prideful in his lifestyle, and especially in his dress. He felt as if he had “got it right,” and it was easy to become proud when the world took notice of him too.

An Amish seventh grader named Emma wrote, “We wear plain clothes because the Bible says we should. Sometimes the English stare at you but they never have said anything to me about my clothes. We can be a witness for others by being plain. . . . I read in the last Family Life that just wearing plain clothes doesn’t make you a Christian. I think sometimes we forget that.”

Emma was talking specifically about the pride that comes from wearing plain clothes, but I admit to feeling this way about my life at times. I see unchurched people around me making bad choices. They seem to pay attention to my life, and I’m pleased I can be a witness with my life and my choices. And even through that thought, pride seeps into my heart.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need,” we read in Matthew 6:33. But sometimes we’re too busy building our own kingdoms—focusing on our own right living—to seek His Kingdom first. Jesus made himself nothing. He surrendered Himself and humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross.

Some of my biggest stumbles have come after I’ve examined my life and thought I was doing a pretty good job. Humility is realizing that I can do no good thing without Christ. It reminds me that I’m accountable to Him, and to others. If Christ humbled Himself to allow God to lift Him up, I can do no less.

Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I become prideful in my own right choices. I know that I’m able to do good—to be an example—only because You are living out Your life through mine.