Cut Down To Size

Read: James 4:1-12

I say . . . to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. —Romans 12:3

A man who had just been elected to the British Parliament brought his family to London. He felt important as he told them about his new job and gave them a tour of the city. When they entered Westminster Abbey, his 8-year-old daughter was awestruck by the size of that magnificent structure. Her proud father asked, "What, my dear, are you thinking about?" She replied, "Daddy, I was just thinking about how big you are in our house, but how small you look here!"

Without knowing it, that little girl said something her father needed to hear. Pride can creep into our lives so easily, and from time to time it's good to be "cut down to size." We need to be reminded not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (Romans 12:3). It's easy to become proud when we stay in our own little circles of life. But when we are thrust into larger situations, with increased demands, pressures, and competition, we come to the shocking realization that "big fish in small ponds" shrink quickly in a large ocean.

James said, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (4:6). So let's ask the Lord to help us see ourselves as we really are. With His help, we'll learn to rid ourselves of foolish pride. —Richard De Haan

Help us, O Lord, lest our heart become proud,
For all of our talents by You are endowed;
Nothing we have can we claim as our own—
What mercy and grace in our life You have shown! —D. De Haan

Those who know God will be humble; those who know themselves cannot be proud.

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