Humility

"Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth." -Numbers 12.3

Moses' siblings, Miriam and Aaron, began to speak against him. They complain about his wife, probably simply looking for something to complain about. Then they try to elevate themselves, asking if God only speaks through Moses and not through them too. And we are told that God heard what they said.

And then we find this verse in parentheses, a side note showing that Moses never sought attention or praise for what God was doing through him. Moses is said to be the most humble man on earth. The man who spoke with God face to face as with a friend. God gave Moses two tablets covered with His own writing, and showed him the plans for the tent of meeting. He spoke with God, and learned from God as no one had since Adam, and yet we are told that he is the most humble man on earth. Because of his humility, Moses wouldn't say anything, but God will act on his behalf.

Men, can you be described as humble? If the story of your life was written down would there be a parenthetical note pointing out your humility? Does your humility allow God to step in and defend your honor?

Humility marked Moses' life. From the beginning when God called him we see him feeling unworthy and incapable of the task. When God offers to wipe out Israel and start over with Moses, he rejects the offer and works to protect the glory of God. He is glad when others are filled with the Spirit and prophesy. He has no desire to gain glory or praise for himself. His only desire is to point others to God. May the same be true of us.

Let us live humbly before God and man. Let us never desire glory or praise for ourselves, and may we always rejoice when God's Spirit is at work in others.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Not Too Proud

"Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, 'I would make mention today of my own offenses. Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream. And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him.'. Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.'"  -Genesis 41.9-15

Pharaoh is troubled by a dream that no one can interpret.  None of his wise men have an answer for him, and that makes this dream all the more troubling.  But then one his servants, the cupbearer who had been sent to prison two years earlier.  He remembers a young man, a Hebrew, who had correctly interpreted two dreams in prison.  He mentions him to Pharaoh, and Joseph is sent for.

The Pharaohs were believed to be gods in human form.  He has had a dream that he can't figure out, nor can any of his wisest advisors.  And what's amazing is that he takes advice from a servant.  He listens to what he has to say, and then does what he suggests.  

The suggestion involved a young foreigner.  The Egyptians saw foreigners as uncivilized barbarians.  If you look at hieroglyphic images you see the Egyptians are always clean shaven and short haired, foreigners are shown with long hair and beards.  Not only is Pharaoh taking advice from a servant, but he seeks the counsel of an uncivilized youth.

Men, how proud are we?  How quick are we to seek advice, let alone the advice of someone younger, or less educated?  How much have we missed out on, or lost, because of our pride?

Over the past few years I've learned to learn from people younger than me.  I've learned to be humble enough to listen, even to the college freshman who thinks he knows everything, and even though most of the time he has absolutely no idea, he does bring a different perspective.

I think the Church has lost a lot of ground because it has refused to listen to the youth.  I think fathers lose a lot of ground because they refuse to listen to their children.  I think men lose a lot of ground when they refuse to be humble and listen.

Don't be too proud to learn from those who are younger.  The bring insights that your experience can easily overlook.  Not everything they say is a gem, but if we never humble ourselves and listen, we miss the ones they throw out.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Humility Before God

"Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him" -Genesis 17.3a

God shows up and speaks, and Abram's first reaction is perfect, fall flat on his face. This reaction is one of complete surrender and submission. We'll see this reaction time and again throughout the Bible, but this is the first. Abram was the start of a lot, and so it's fitting for him to begin this practice as well.

Humbly on his face, fully surrendered, open, and vulnerable, God is free to speak to a fully captive audience. This is how it always should be. God speaks, we shut up, drop what we're doing, and give our undivided attention. But how often is it like this? How often do we really even seek conversation with God? (Notice it says that "God talked with him".)

When is the last time you really prayed? I have to be honest and say I don't know. Yes, I've talked with God. I've lifted up concerns to Him and presented my requests. I've thanked Him for everything He's provided. But the last time I had this reaction I don't know. I don't know the last time I've just sat, fully open, and listened to God speaking. I don't know the last time I've fallen on my face and listened to God talk. This has to change in my life, and if your life is in the same situation as mine, so does yours.

I've really started to think about where my life is headed career wise. I'm not actively pursuing anything in full time ministry, but am preparing as best I can for when that time comes again. I've started to think about interviewing. Everyone wants to know your plan and your strategy to help the Church grow. Honestly, I don't have one. And I'm wondering what would happen if I answered that question, "We're going to seek God together. When something comes up, we're going to stop right then, and fall on our faces and ask God. And we aren't going to move until He tells us what the plan is."

What if more churches, more pastors, and more Christians took this approach to life? What is God trying to say to us that we are missing because we haven't fallen on our faces before him to listen?

Men, it's time for us to get flat on our faces before God. Let's set aside everything that distracts us and get face down before God. When you're flat on your face you can't look around at anything else. There is nothing to focus on but God. And if we would be Men of God, this is exactly where we need to be.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Dust to Dust

"By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." -Genesis 3.19

During college I had the opportunity to intern with an awesome youth pastor, he's one of the men I respect most in this world. As the new year began to approach he started talking about doing a service on Ash Wednesday, using ashes. I had never been a part of anything like this before, but as I had taken a class on Church History I began to understand the significance of the liturgical year.

Yes, I know it's January, but this is where the Bible has us today. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, forty days before Easter. In that time people give something up, a fast, in order to prepare themselves to focus more fully on God, in preparation for the celebration of Easter. That year was my junior year, and prior to youth group that night a friend and I went to an Ash Wednesday service at noon that day, just checking it out. We went forward to have ashes placed on our foreheads, and as the priest made a cross with them he said these words, "Ashes to Ashes. Dust to dust."

The meaning is incredible. As you enter into this time of sacrifice to prepare to celebrate the resurrection, go into with the reminder that you are dust. Humility is the key here. What are we really? In Genesis 2, we see that God forms man from the dust of the earth, and gives him life by breathing into him the breath of life. Man is dust, and one day, when he is no longer able to say the name of God, to dust he will return.

As we go through life let us keep this fact in mind. How insignificant are we really? Dust is something we sweep up and throw out, and that is what we are made of. Apart from God, all we are good for is being thrown out. But in this we also see the incredible love of God. He cared enough to form man from dust and give him life. And then, after man brought a curse on all of creation, God still loved him enough to redeem him. And man has the audacity to blame God for anything?

As we go through our lives let us remember who we are. Let us live with humility, knowing that one day, no matter the wealth or success we accumulated, we shall return to dust. So let us take the time we have and make the most of it. As William Wallace said, "Every man dies. Not every man really lives." Let us live our lives fully alive, to the glory of God. Dust to dust, with a lot of glorification in between, which leads to eternal glorification of the Father.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor