“A greater than Solomon is here” (Matt. 12:42).
“Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
Some of our readers will remember a remark made by a dear brother, now with the Lord, that went something like this: “If a believer walks down the street with the sense in his heart that he is a son of God, that will give him dignity, not pride.” These good words are especially needed in the present day, for they have both spiritual and practical applications to our lives. It is good to be reminded of the dignity and glory that belong to us as sons of God (Gal. 4:6; Heb. 2:10). At the same time we should never forget the immeasurable depths to which our blessed Lord Jesus “humbled Himself ” for us (2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:8). These thoughts ought to raise “songs in the night,” songs of praise and thanksgiving to our God.
On the practical side, we see what an important balance exists between the dignified walk which is proper to our position in Christ and that true humility which ought to characterize such a walk! The possibility exists, however, that the child of God may confuse humility (not occupied with self) with mediocrity (satisfied with what is inferior or average). While sons of God should never be characterized as proud, neither should our lives and ways be characterized by carelessness. How strange that we who are called “the excellent” by God (Psa.16:3) would ever be satisfied with serving the Lord in a halfhearted way!
We can easily understand these concepts the ill effects of mediocrity and the value of humility-in our natural lives. For example, what friend would recommend to his neighbor an auto mechanic who was known for his inferior mechanical workmanship? What husband would allow his beloved wife to have surgery performed by a doctor whose surgical abilities were only mediocre? What father would allow his dear children to travel on an airplane whose pilot had second-rate landing skills?
While the answer to these questions is obvious, it is equally obvious that if the same mechanic, surgeon or pilot spent much time making special efforts to tell us how good they were, we would quickly (and rightly) question the reality of their claims to such greatness!
How important that we seek grace to “serve God acceptably” (Heb. 12:28) as His dear children who are “blessed... with all spiritual blessings... in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), doing so with “all humility of mind” (Acts 20:19) and never being satisfied with less than wholehearted efforts (Col. 3:23). What would the Queen of Sheba have thought of Solomon had the deportment and apparel of his servants, as they served him, been sloppy (1 Kings 10:5; 2 Chron. 9:4)?
What would we think of Abraham had he chosen a scrawny calf from his herd and allowed Sarah to prepare it in a slipshod manner, while he served it in a halfhearted way to his heavenly guests in the plains of Mamre (Gen. 18)?
Would Moses have been satisfied with the work of Aholiab and Bezaleel for the tabernacle of Jehovah, had its quality been shoddy (Ex. 36)?
What testimony would Joseph have given to Pharaoh, had he been negligent in his service for Potiphar and in the prison (Gen. 40-41)?
Was it a trivial gospel message of which Paul was unashamed, and did he proclaim it before the kings of this world in a mediocre manner (Rom. 1:16; Acts 26)?
Let us seek grace that our walk as believers and our work as servants always be performed in humility, but never in a halfhearted way! Think whom it is we serve! What kind of “living sacrifice” does He deserve from each believer (Rom. 12:1)? May our lives, an “epistle... known and read of all” (2 Cor. 3:2), not tell a halfhearted tale!
Ed.