Humble Pie: A Title-Less Church — Monday
Romans 12:10
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (NLT)
When I was little, I thought everyone was on television. Like, at all times. I could see the characters living their lives on the TV screen I watched, so obviously the reasonable conclusion was that we were all, every one of us, being watched by someone else. It made me want to do the right thing, make good choices. It also made me afraid to pick my nose, even while sitting alone in my bedroom.
My misunderstanding of how the world works—my assumption that I was on TV and someone was watching my every move—reflects a tendency many of us have… that everyone is watching us. That we’re at the center of the story, the main character around whom everyone else orbits, serving to advance the plot in our little narrative. This might not seem too far fetched: Person A assumes Person B has seen every detail they’ve posted on social media. But Person B is more taken up with the “likes,” or lack thereof, on their own posts along with scrolling through so many other posts that they spend less than 3 seconds on Person A’s post, if they didn’t happen to accidentally scroll right past it.
Our self-focused lives can cause us to miss out on the blessing, peace, and joy brought about by humility. T.S. Eliot said, “Nothing dies harder than the desire to think well of oneself.” Isn’t it kind of a good feeling when people say our name? It feels good to be recognized. What if, instead of seeking our own priority and fame, we sought to make someone else famous? Primarily Jesus, but also, what if we set about seeking the honor of others? This world would truly be renewed and refreshed by our presence as a result. How can you make Jesus and others the higher priority today?
Monday’s Reflection
Take a moment to consider how you could elevate others—your family, friends, strangers, or even Jesus Himself—to honor them above yourself today. How would that affect your relationships? Make a plan and a decision to act on what you sense God wants to do in this area of your life.
