Lately, news about fights during airplane flights have been featured in US news. People argue over their seats, among other trivial things they can fight over endlessly asserting their rights and entitlements. No one wants to give up, and so brawls ensue.
As followers of Jesus, we are being called to be humble and leave peaceably the best way we can. But these days when we are encouraged to speak up, and do what feels right, this becomes a huge challenge, especially for those who have yet to surrender their lives to Jesus.
“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5
When we strip ourselves of our entitlements, and we look upon the example of our Messiah, it will be easier to let go of our “rights,” not think of our pride, and the things we feel we can assert. The key is to fix our eyes on Jesus, who did not wield His divinity to prove Himself worthy.
“Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8
An Old Testament character who was filled with self-entitlement and pride was a mighty Aramean Military officer named Naaman. Despite His valor and military success, He was afflicted with leprosy — a dreaded disease back then.
When he learned from one of his wife’s servants that there is a Prophet in Israel who could heal him, he immediately sought an audience from Him. But instead of giving Him the grand welcome and ceremonial healing that He is expecting given his high stature in his homeland, the Prophet Elisha just sent his assistant to tell Naaman to dip in the Jordan River seven times so that he could get healed.
Naaman was aghast at what he heard. For him it was unthinkable that after being surprised that the prophet did not personally talk to him, he is being asked to bathe in a river that is dirty and is not even at par with the better rivers in his own hometown.
“But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.” 2 Kings 5:11-12
But then people around him encouraged him to do what he was told to do. Anyway, he has nothing to lose given that he is afflicted with an incurable disease that will soon kill him. True enough, when he let go of His pride, Naaman got healed. He even got to know about God through the prophet that healed Him.
“Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’” 2 Kings 5:15
When we let go of our pride and self-entitlement, we in effect allow Jesus to bring healing to our souls. In one of the most quoted bible passages, our Savior Himself encourages us to unburden to Him the baggage that we carry and learn from His example.
““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Such baggage includes pride and self entitlement. When we try our best to prove ourselves high and mighty, we get into the vicious cycle of working hard to puff up our image, getting frustrated about how others treat us, and then to keep our ego from getting wounded, we work even harder and pursue higher power and prestige.
This kind of pursuit wears us out, and could even drive us to seek ill means to gain more power. But it is a never-ending chase. Sooner or later we will again receive the treatment that we think we do not deserve.
And so, we take the cue from Jesus, who calls us to a life of humility. When we decide to be humble like Jesus, and become grateful for what we have, we heal ourselves from the wounds inflicted by our own pride. We get freedom from the endless pursuit of prestige that enslaves us and keeps us from worshipping God, spending time with our families, and forging meaningful memories with the people we love.
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
Yes, by choosing to be humble, we may not have the best seats, we may not get all the attention and accolades that this world so craves, but we can be sure that in the end we will get to inherit God’s reward for those who faithfully follow Him.
“The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 2 Kings 5:1-19 and Philippians 2:3-11 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you have a hard time humbling yourself before others and God?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for setting the best example for humility. Give me the grace to follow your way whenever I am tempted to exalt myself and assert my entitlements. I know that you are asking me to stay humble so that in turn I can free myself from the pride and pursuit of prestige that have been enslaving me. Amen.
