He Must Become Greater

Chuckle: A man walked into a bank to hold it up and gave the teller a note that read, "This is a stickup. Give me all your money." She passed a note back to him that said, "Fix your tie. We're taking your picture."

Quote: "Humility is a voluntary abdication of power, wherever one's own advantage and one's self-assertion is involved." --Ladislaus Boros

"He (Jesus) must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less" (John 3:30 NLT).

It seems to be human nature to want to elevate our importance in the eyes of others. Pride causes us to want to take credit for the good in our lives and blame others for the negative. The words of our passage were spoken by John the Baptist in describing his role in God's kingdom as compared to that of Jesus. He would never allow himself to be placed on a pedestal equal to or above that of his Lord. John had been sent by God to herald the coming of the Messiah.

Every day, As Christians, we are tempted to claim honor for ourselves for things obviously accomplished by God's power or the efforts of others. John's eagerness to subordinate himself and decrease his own importance reflects unusual humility. Pastors, teachers, deacons, and other Christian leaders are often tempted to call attention to their own success rather than Christ, the One they supposedly serve.

Humility becomes especially difficult when others heap praise upon us for our ministry and service. Allowing pride to replace humility has caused the downfall of some otherwise great Christian leaders. But making ourselves less that Christ may become greater is something each of us must deal with every day. Problems in this area are not limited to the more prominent Christians.

Corre ten Boom was once asked if it was difficult for her to remain humble. Her reply was simple. "When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments on the road, and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?" She continued, "If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in His glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor."

The principle of making ourselves less is also applicable in our dealing with other people as well as with our Lord. When we give credit to others and refuse credit ourselves, we are reflecting the attitude of Jesus when he said he came not to be served but to serve. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5 NIV). When we give credit to God and to others rather than ourselves, we will be elevated in their eyes much more than if we try to draw attention to ourselves. Jesus said to his followers, ". . . whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave" (Matthew 20:26-27 NIV).

Love, Jerry & Dotse