I struggle with wanting people to know my successes in life. My inclination to make my success known is my insecurity in myself. In this weird twisted way I want people to see me as smart, tough, wise, successful, and happy. I want people to accept me and I want to be liked. But by boasting and bragging, that person I am speaking with only wants to push me away and thus a fake relationship is birthed. By boasting, what I am really doing is covering up the fact that I am nothing and a mist that will vanish.

One thing I have learned about pride, is the proud that are doing the boasting are really only covering up your weaknesses.

Our lives are brief and quickly vanish. James is getting at the root of pride. Pride is when we think we are our own saviors, our own lords, controlling our own will and life. James is warning us that our boasting is nothing because in the grand scheme that is eternity, we aren’t very much.

The humble see life as nothing but a grace filled gift. And Jesus defines that humility. Take the time to read Philippians 2:5-11 out loud. Take your time to read through it. Does Jesus seem self-centered? Prideful? Boastful? No.

Now I know there is resistance here. You want to think that because God loves you, you matter. Its true. Jesus does love you and you do matter. But the problem is when you start thinking you matter more than anyone else. The apostle Paul considered his life nothing to him. It was all for Jesus. In the book of Job we see a strong reflection. “my life is but a breathe…our days on earth are but a shadow…my days are swifter than a runner”

Jesus defines humility. Lets stop trying to define it ourselves and on our own terms.

Just as we aren’t perfectly humble, we aren’t sinless either…

For Jesus’ Fame,

JK