In the movie
“Sweet Home Alabama,” the female lead Melanie Smooter (Reese Witherspoon) from
Alabama, has a successful career in New York as a fashion designer, however,
she changed her name to Melanie Carmichael. As the movie progresses, it’s
obvious she’s ashamed of her birth state, since her move to the mental state of
hoity-toity. Plenty of fictional stories and true stories stem from the theme
of embarrassment because of one’s heritage, family, or education level.
This week, we’re considering the fifth
rule for humble living, written by Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667). In his words, “Never be ashamed of thy birth, or thy parents, or thy
trade, or
thy present employment, for the meanness or poverty of any of them.” Taylor
gave one example of a monarch who kept a reminder of his humble beginnings: Primislaus,
the first king of Bohemia, kept his country-shoes always by him, to remember his
humble beginnings.
The
setting in Matthew 18 and Luke 9, finds the disciples of Jesus, adult men,
arguing about who will be the greatest in Jesus’ kingdom. In addition, in Mark
10, the disciples James and John asked for positions of power, to sit on the
right hand and left hand of Jesus. Perhaps they wanted to be advisors to God as
we so often do.
Jesus
provided the perfect application lesson for his disciples when he called a
child into their midst. His kingdom was out of this world, not like the hierarchies
of that day or ours. His would be an upside-down kingdom, where those who had
child-like spirits would reign -- no ruling over subjects, everyone equal in
service to each other. Background or status simply wouldn’t matter.
Jesus
was a master teacher when using visual aids. Among a group of hearty,
enthusiastic, hardworking men, Jesus called attention to a child to aid their
understanding. This became a multi-layered teaching moment, but today, we’ll
consider one aspect: the mindset of a young child, who is content to be alive.
A child doesn’t care where they were born or if his parents are uneducated,
poor, or unattractive. The little one hasn’t rubbed elbows with the world long
enough to become tainted by false values.
A child
remains content to fulfill childhood destiny, to live, learn, and thrive where
they are. They do not seek acclaim. They aren’t hiding their heritage or
parentage. They have no occupation other than to abide and do what children do.
Unencumbered by supposed symbols of success (money, power, rank), they rely upon
their caretakers and for a few short years they naturally live out humility. Still
lowly in status, God stays near. The kingdom is near to them for the lowliest
is the closest to God.
Fix in
your mind the picture of a ladder, with humility representing the bottom rung
and pride and self-exaltation representing the highest rung. Imagine a young
boy who starts out at the lowest rung, humble by nature of his age and
innocence. However as the world influences that child, he begins to see that
birthright, education, and rank can move him up the ladder, and he begins to
want to look good in the eyes of his fellowman. At some point in that young
man’s life, he may see that Jesus calls him to climb down the ladder, back down
to the lowest rung.
While
our imaginary boy may attain rank and a higher education and acquire wealth, he
finds true strength in not calling attention to them. His battle to stay on the
lowest rung, being the least in the kingdom of God, serving instead of being
served will be a lifelong calling, a lifelong struggle. Climbing down, after achieving
much in life, will be difficult but well worth the many efforts. Why? Because peace,
sleep, and wisdom come as gifts to those who embrace God’s kingdom morals.
In a parable about a wedding guest, Jesus advised
the guest to sit in the lowliest seat because if the guest chose the best seat
in the house a person of higher rank might come in and the host would ask the
guest to move to a lowlier place. However, if the guest chose a lowly seat to
begin with, he wouldn’t have to move unless the host decided to honor the guest
with a better seat.
As you
go about during Lenten, remember: never be ashamed of your family and do
nothing to shame your family. Keep your feet anchored on that lower rung.
Hunger
for Humility (12): For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 14:11)
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