I never connected my loving logic with a
need to be humble, but today it crosses my mind. I’m reading where Jesus offered
an example of humble action by washing the feet of His disciples. This was a
task normally done by servants. When He came to Peter, this man had other
ideas.
Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” (John 13:8)
George Bowen writes, “Whatever hinders
us from receiving a blessing that God is willing to bestow upon us is not
humility, but the mockery of it. A genuine humility will ever feel the need of
the largest measures of grace, and will be perfected just in the degree in
which that grace is bestowed. The truly humble man will seek to be filled with
all the fullness of God, knowing that when so filled there is not the slightest
place for pride or for self.”
I’ve thought of humility not so much as
having a low attitude about one’s self, but as never thinking much about myself
at all, being more focused on others. Jesus had that attitude when He washed the
dirty, perhaps smelly feet of His disciples. Yet Peter’s refusal to let this
man who was God wash his feet is a definite lack of humility. Peter was too
proud, too independent. He might have thought that refusing service from One
who obviously should be served was a more honorable response to the basin and
towel than sitting down and accepting Jesus’ actions.
Not so. Jesus made it clear that if
anyone refuses to let Him take care of even their smallest need is not accepted
as part of His following. He implies that a person who says no to the care of Christ
cannot be a Christian.
Eventually, my mother picked up the idea
that it was okay to be served. In her dementia, she had to repeat things over
and over, so with her change of heart, she began saying happily, “My son takes
care of all my finances” and “The staff where I live do all my laundry.” She
started to enjoy being cared for instead of feeling she needed to do all the
caring.
While I realize wanting to be waited on
could be vanity and pride (most likely my reason for teasing my husband that I need
a houseboy), willingness to let anyone take care of me requires humility. I know
that I am spiritually needy and am happy
to let God grant me grace in spiritual matters. But I am needy in other ways
too, otherwise I would never pray for parking places, or wisdom when I go
shopping, or help with a knotty problem.
Lord, feeling helpless is never a
welcome feeling for most of us. I don’t like being unable or handicapped in any
way, yet this is when You show Yourself most powerful on my behalf. You are
willing to do anything for me, from helping me find lost car keys to granting
me grace to be kind to difficult people. You serve me, and because of Your blessing
on my life, I am able to serve You. Thank You.
No comments:
Post a Comment