A Lesson in Humility
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”Jesus … made Himself of no reputation … He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5, 7–8).
Deflating inflated egos is so important to God that he offers to help.
He helped me. I recently spent a week on a book tour. We saw long lines and crowded stores. One person after another complimented me. For three days I bathed in the river of praise. I began to believe the accolades. All these people can’t be wrong. I must be God’s gift to readers. My chest puffed so much I could hardly see where to autograph the books. Why, had I been born two thousand years earlier, we might read the gospels of Matthew, Max, Luke, and John. About the time I wondered if the Bible needed another epistle, God shot an arrow of humility in my direction.
We were running late for an evening book signing, late because the afternoon signing had seen such long lines. We expected the same at the next store. Concerned, we phoned ahead. “We are running behind. Tell all the people we’ll arrive soon.”
“No need to hurry,” the store manager assured.
“What about the people?”
“Neither one seems to be in a hurry.”
Neither one?
By the time we reached the store, thankfully, the crowd of two people had tripled to six. We had scheduled two hours for the signing; I needed ten minutes.
Self-conscious about sitting alone at the table, I peppered the last person with questions. We talked about her parents, school, Social Security number, favorite birthday party. Against my pleadings, she had to go. So I sat alone at the table. Big stack of Lucado books, no one in line.
I asked the store manager, “Did you advertise?”
“We did. More than usual.” She walked off.
The next time she passed I asked, “Had other signings?”
“Yes, usually we have a great response,” and kept going.
I signed all the books at my table. I signed all the Lucado books on the shelves. I signed Tom Clancy and John Grisham books. Finally a customer came to the table. “You write books?” he asked, picking up the new one.
“I do. Want me to sign it?”
“No thanks,” he answered and left.
God hit his target. Lest I forget, my daily reading the next morning had this passage: “Do not be wise in your own eyes” (Proverbs. 3:7).
When you’re full of yourself, God can’t fill you.
But when you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel.
From Cure for the Common Life
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2006) Max Lucado
Questions: What happens when we allow our egos to get inflated? How does this happen? What does it mean to be humble?
About the Author Max Lucado
Tags: book signing, book tour, Cure for the Common Life, Devotional, full of yourself, humility, Jesus, max lucado, Self-conscious, target, useful
8 Responses to “A Lesson in Humility”
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What a blessing to my heart. Yes, God gave you the experience so that I can learn humility. Thanks for sharing it with the world.
Being humble to me is giving God all the glory, and all the praise, for everything good! For I am nothing without Him! I stand humbly before Him, and am here to serve Him! Great things He has done, and to Him be the glory forever. Amen!
I love this devotional. There are times when I think I “know it all” and walk with my head held up too high. I can sometimes tell by the reactions of others around me that I have said too much. I’m so glad that God showed me what I was doing wrong,now I pray daily for the Lord to order my steps and put the right words in my mouth to say. Pray that I be humbled and show off only for God, because He’s the one that gives me my life,strength and talent, I know that only what I do for Christ will last. I want to do what is right in the sight of the Lord.
Thanks for listening
To be humble to me is to serve people. I love serving people and always think less of myself and think more highly of others. I believe that is what God want from us. To be humble servants and He will open doors of oppotunity for our well being. This Friday pass I went for my first driving lesson. Never driven in my life before.The instructor come to collect me and the first thing he ask me if I could drive and I said no,but yes thru Christ I can do all things. He looked confused and then he told me to get behind the wheel and show Him what my Christ can do. I was so confident not in myself,but believing Jesus is going to take the wheel and to my amaze He did. I got in and I drove myself home,but just in 1st and 2nd gear. I humbled myself and did not allow pride to take control.I listen carefully to the instructor and did what he told me to do,not what I think is right. The same principle we must apply to our daily lives to be humble and listen to what God’s instruction is. Not what we think is right. I had to learn to fully depend on the Holy Spirit in everything I do.I tried in my own strength and I failed many times,but if we humble ourselves and let God take control we will never grow weary. I am still learning and believe God is showing me what humility is all about.
Thank you for this devotional it is building my character and I’m learning daily to die to my flesh.
That is how it work in the Kingdom of God. God will allow us to do what we want and He will sit back and wait till we humble ourselves and ask Him for help.God is so patient and faithfull towards us how much more should’nt we show humilty towards him.
I LOVED THIS. Max, you are a blessing. And what a thought-provoking quote at the end: “When you’re full of yourself, God can’t fill you. But when you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel.”
I’m with Maulene. Thank you for sharing this. Definitely a blessing to my heart.
Thank you, Max, for today’s devotional. It is so “down to earth”. It really hit home, especially if we are listening. I know I was. It is encouraging to not only learn from the devotional, but realize that others who we think would not have to deal with sinful issues are human, too. Yes, it can be an on-going battle, as walking with Christ is an on-going challenge. As a Christian, I want to walk with Him and serve Him, however, I am not perfect. Christ is the Perfect One, not us. Thank the Lord, He gave us the Holy Spirit, His Word, and Christ to guide us.
I, too, liked the scripture and the words at the end:
“Do not be wise in your own eyes” (Proverbs. 3:7).
When you’re full of yourself, God can’t fill you.
But when you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel.
Thank you, again. Blessings, JudyD
Thank you Max for this devotional. You have been such a blessing in my life and I thank you for your honesty about your own battles in life. God Bless you and I pray you will conntinue to give us Your God-Given books filled with His knowledge to teach us how to live our lives to honor Him.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m sure I’ll get a few nodding heads but my inflated ego brought me to the bottom of a self-inflicted, self-destructive pit of anger where i floated in a depth of hatred, grief, abandonment and shame. it happened to me because I thought I was in control of my life and the bitterness I felt was never going to be felt again. I was in control. Took some time for me to find out that I was not.
For me, to be humbled is to be loved.