Humble and Kind
There are perks that go with position and title. And we work hard to be able to take advantage of those perks. So, we should, shouldn't we?
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Matthew 23:1-12
Could you imagine achieving that level of accomplishment you have striven for and refusing to accept the accolades?
That is what Jesus is telling his friends they must do.
He makes it sound like these are prerequisites for entry into the Kingdom, and in a way they are. The Kingdom is all around us, but we don't enjoy it until we choose to give up the things that hold us back.
Every once in a while I spot a social media post about Keanu Reeves, you know, the actor, the star of The Matrix, that guy.
The post is usually about how kind and humble he is, waiting in line at his own wrap party, driving a woman fifty miles out of his way because her car broke down, eating and talking with the homeless.
That guy!
You could make an argument that he has a lot of money so he could do these things, but how much money does it take to be kind?
Jesus had nothing and gave it all.
Imagine when you die, people share stories of how humble and gracious a person you were, how much you will be missed by all.
The interesting thing is while we admire such behavior, we often fail to emulate it.
I guess we don't feel worthy enough to be humble and kind.
More to come...