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“Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God…”

A line from a Steven Curtis Chapman song (one of my favorite song writers!) Taken from a line in Micah (6:8). And really is at the core of how we are made to live.

It is not like God to be boastful or proud. Even though he has the right to be. Jesus did not come and make everyone fall to the ground with their face in the dirt… he was born in a dirty barn. As a helpless little baby. The King of the universe was wearing diapers. (From WalMart probably, since they didn’t have much money…) 🙂

Jesus said, “Come to me, you who are weary… I will give you rest… because I am humble and gentle…” God’s very nature is the opposite of arrogant.

And for the most part, we convince ourselves we are not arrogant. We don’t go around brashly proclaiming our strong points and accomplishments. We don’t taunt other people with our greatness. (Well, most of us don’t…) 🙂 But are there other forms of arrogance?

One of my son’s favorite things to do (it seems) is to let everyone know that he has seen it, heard it, done it, known it. Whatever “it” is… he’s been there. 🙂 And, for the most part, he’s completely right. He has experienced all of those things. So it’s been frustrating trying to understand why it rubs Jen and I the wrong way when he says those things, even when he is right.

Well, for some reason last night, I saw it. It is arrogance. It is the pride of being better than someone else. Or, at least NOT bested by another’s accomplishments or experiences. Don’t we see this all the time? We have run into quite a few folks along our path who ALWAYS know something about everything… and need to let you know that. Perhaps they don’t really, but you’re still going to hear a little information, a story, or something about any topic you bring up.

There are actually several proverbs that mention the fact that it is often better to NOT say anything. 🙂 I think that’s because part of who we are is wanting to be in the know. Not left out. On the inside. And so in our arrogance, we display our accomplishments. It may not seem that way, or even be our main intent… but it comes across that way, and, I think you’ll agree, rubs folks the wrong way. Perhaps just a little… but there’s still some rubbin’ goin’ on.

So we were trying to teach Ian last night in a brief moment of openness that Jesus was completely humble and gentle. He did not need to be right, or the best, or even keep up with the best. He just loved mercy, did justly, and walked humbly with his God.

What a place this would be if we could follow his example!!

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:3-4

“No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

“The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.  And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” – Mark 12:29-31