Humility Rooted in Power

 No one is impressed when a weak man is gentle.  Everyone takes note when a large, powerful man who is obviously capable of great violence is gentle.

No one notices when a poor person lives a simple life and feels approachable.  Everyone is impressed when an extremely wealthy person lives humbly and is down to earth.

Humility from the weak and lowly shouldn't cause you to take note, but humility from the high and mighty does.  

Look at John chapter 13 with me for a moment.  This is the chapter in which Jesus washes His disciples feet.  It's a very familiar story and in the coming weeks we will likely hear about it again.  But notice how John sets up his rendition.

"During the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given Him all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper.  He laid aside his outer garment, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist.  Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him." John 13:2-5

There is a lot that has been and could be written about this Maundy Thursday scene.  There is the fact that Jesus washed Judas' feet in the passage alone that could spill much valuable ink worthily.  But I want you to catch what's said in verse three:

"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God,"

John wants us to see and understand that Jesus served His disciples while stooping from a position of power.  Simply being a rabbi to a group of disciples made Jesus above the lowly job of foot washer, but John goes so much further.  Jesus isn't just a rabbi.  Jesus had received ALL THINGS from God, who is His literal Father.  Jesus had come from the opulence of Heaven and was about to return to that place of holy luxury.  Once Jesus had considered these facts He got down and performed a lowly act of service on people who were beneath Him in every sense and one that was soon to betray Him.

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." John 13:14-15 

Christians, much of our humility comes from a recognition of our lowly state in comparison to Jesus, and it should.  We are immensely less immense in every good quality.  We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  We have many reasons for this type of humility.

Yet, Christians, to truly exercise humility in service to our fellow man, we must have humility rooted in our high stature.  We are children of the Most High God and the King of kings calls us His friend.  We have an inheritance that can never perish that is kept in Heaven for us (1 Peter 1:3-5).  

Humility that begins with an acknowledgement of the high stature that we've been graced into has the ability to be boundless.  Like Jesus, we can serve in any way and not have our stature in the reality of all reality affected.  Nothing can bump us down from the high place we've been set.  In fact, humility that stoops low ensures a higher place because God exalts the humble (James 4:10) and the last will be first (Matthew 20:16).

It is this type of humility that impresses a watching world.  It is this type of humble service that causes the world to see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Follow your Lord's example.  Take stock of what you've been graciously given and then put your towel around your waist, dip down low and serve today.

Escaping the Poverty Mindset

 Most of us live with a poverty mindset.

Most Americans would call themselves middle class.  I have met people I would consider poor and those I would consider rich and both groups happily and quickly call themselves middle class.  Everyone but a few can think of someone richer or poorer than they.  Yet, I would argue most of us live with a poverty mindset.

Let me show you what I mean from Luke chapter 12 verses 22-34.  Please pause now to read the passage.

There are three things I took away from this super familiar passage of Scripture.

1) Don't Sweat the Small Things.

Jesus enters this particular passage after talking about a rich fool.  The fool felt rich and was ready to live the retirement of his dreams and God responded with: 

"Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:20-21

Jesus enters the very famous passage about not worrying with a plea for the rich to not be confident in their own wealth.  It's a strange way to get into a sweet passage about how we shouldn't worry about what we should wear or eat.  Jesus is saying that life is about more than one's 401k and enjoying great food or drink.

Because life is about more than food and drink and money then we should trust God to provide those things for us.  Jesus says that if God feeds birds, that don't matter near as much as you, then He'll take care of you; if our Heavenly Father beautifully adorns flowers, that are here today and gone tomorrow, then trust that He will take care of you.

Don't sweat the small stuff for:

"For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." Luke 12:30-31

Don't sweat the small stuff but focus on the big things.

2) We Aren't Poor in the Least.

When we are anxious about the small things in life, about the cares of our basic needs, we demonstrate that we don't know our Father well.  Our Father is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10).  

Luke includes a part of Jesus' teaching here that Matthew doesn't and it's amazing.  Behold what Luke shares in the very next verse after what we just read:

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

Jesus is saying, "Yo, why are you living with a poverty mindset?  Why are you worrying about having enough food or any clothes to wear?  My Dad, your Dad, is geeked up to give you the empire He's established!"

Christians, why would we have a poverty mindset when we're rich beyond our wildest dreams? I'm not calling for a neglecting of the money wisdom or the work ethic in the book of Proverbs or anything like that.  No, I'm arguing that we need to have a mind that knows the immeasurable inheritance we've been given and that thinks accordingly.  Brothers and sisters, quit acting like we're in poverty, even if our bank account tells us we are.  

This isn't prosperity gospel.  This is Gospel.  Jesus tells us that we need to cast out our fears and anxieties about the small stuff and trust our Good Father who is excited to give us the Kingdom.

3) Be Generous.

Because this is true we aren't to be hoarders.  Because this is true we are to be as generous as a billionaire philanthropist.  I'm not saying you should write million dollar checks to charity when you have far less in your bank account.  That's fraud and would be foolish and sinful.  

Here's what I am saying.  Bill Gates and Warren Buffett started The Giving Pledge.  They and many other billionaires have pledged to give massive amounts of money to causes they deem worthy.  Here's the thing though, Bill and Warren and the others that have made the pledge are still the most wealthy men on earth.  Why is this?  It's because their wealth is so large and continues to grow at such a rapid rate that they have trouble giving it away fast enough.

I'm saying give like that. Give like someone who knows their inheritance can't be negatively affected by their giving.  Millions to a billionaire is a drop in the bucket.  Give with that mindset.  In fact, give like someone investing.  Jesus tells us in this passage that giving is investing and investing in something more sure than any investment the Oracle of Omaha has ever made.

"Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:33-34

Rid yourself of a poverty mindset and find freedom from the anxieties of the world and freedom to be generous today.