Do You Practice What You Preach When It Comes To Humility?
Good Morning Friends,
Today we have a follow up passage on Ruth, for those who did not read the whole short story yesterday. And then we have a passage on pretense directed toward the religious leaders of Jesus’ day that is meant for our instruction as well. Do You Practice What You Preach When It Comes To Humility?
Scripture: Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him. “Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 (NRSV)
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 23:1-12 (NRSV)
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.
1 Peter 5:6 (NRSV)
Message: There is a paradox that is so opposed to common sense and yet it is so true in the passage from Matthew and in a way the story of Ruth. It is seemingly contradictory and opposed to common sense and yet is still true. Jesus stated this paradox in Matthew 23:12 when He said, “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” In fact, it is seen throughout the Bible in the stories of Joseph, Moses, David and Jesus. When God exalted Joseph, He gave Him a reputation as a wise ruler. When God exalted David, He gave him a reputation as a good king. But all these people went through a valley before that happened. Some were considered or outcastes or criminals first, before being exalted to a place of leadership. So too in the stories of Moses and of Ruth. I suspect you will experience it as well. The valley is essential preparation for the mountaintop. The reality though is that people in the world may perform humble acts without, in fact, humbling themselves. A politician may bend down and speak to a child or kiss a baby with the motive of appearing humble so that he can win the election and ultimately be exalted. But typically, it is just one part of a strategy for self-exaltation. So, superficial acts of humility are not guarantees of the real deal. Sometimes people want to take credit for the work others have done. For sure we all stand on the work of others, unfortunately in most situations people are motivated more by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. We are inundated with a mindset that is the opposite of Jesus’ statement. The message of the world tells us that whoever exalts himself will be exalted. We just need to use the right methods and techniques to get it done. You see pride drives most activities in the world. It is the utmost evil and the central moral issue we must face. Friends, being humble is not just a nice platitude. It is essential to salvation. You see, God chooses who and when we are exalted. In fact, His plan of salvation is designed to bring us into an eternal state of exaltation and glory. His part is to do the exalting; our part is to be humble.
Pray that the humble attitude and purpose and mind of Christ be in us. Pray we get the connection between our humility and our reputation and real success. Pray we smile and take it when God has ordered your steps into humbling circumstances. Pray we realize how limiting pride is on our life. Pray we not be so concerned about looking good, but doing the will of God. Pray God forgive us of our arrogance and turn our hearts from self-reliance to a genuine reliance upon the redeeming, creating, sustaining Spirit of the divine. Pray we not choose the world and forfeit our very souls.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 