Go Lower to Get Higher
The idea of being humble might sound good, if you’re living in a cave with only bats to keep you company. But some people live highly visible lives, interacting with people at work and socially. Perhaps you’re a leader at church. If you go around acting humble and meek, you’ll get stomped on as others in your sphere pass you up. There are some pretty strong personalities out there that will gladly kick you out of the way on their way up.
The world will teach you how to be assertive, if not by seminar, at least by example. I’ve had a job where I just went about minding my own business and another made it known she wanted my job—or pieces of my job.
By personality, you might not be the type to stand up for yourself, so you think you’re doomed to be at the bottom, overlooked by everyone. Once again, you find yourself alone in the abyss, envying those with stronger personalities who know how to get what they want.
But here’s a secret. The benefit of being humble, meek and entrusting yourself to God is that He lifts you up. You don’t do it yourself, He does it.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14:11)
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Pro 29:23
When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. (Job 22:29)
Remember, God doesn’t think like we think. His ways aren’t our ways, and His thoughts aren’t our thoughts. Yes, the world says to claw and fight your way into prominence, but God says to lower yourself a few notches and let Him lift you up. This next passage is profound, and you may see things in it you have never seen. Read carefully:
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:6-10)
Doesn’t it sound a little like God is telling you to be depressed in order to humble yourself so He can lift you up? (Look back at my Sparky People blog.) He says to be afflicted. That means to feel miserable. He says to turn your joy to heaviness. That means dejection and gloom. Hmm. You might feel like you’re already there. So look at the benefit of that if you will turn your focus to Him. Praise Him. Say, “Thank you Jesus. Please lift me up right now, because I have no strength in myself.” It will be easier for Him to lift you up if you will at least look up! You don’t have to look around at others. You don’t have to look inside at what a wretch you feel like. Just look up from your misery, dejection and gloom and take hold of God. He will lift you up! Then you’re better off than those stronger personalities that lift themselves up.