Some patterns are so prevalent that they are truly inescapable. Labradors are people friendly dogs. It is likely to rain in Seattle in March. The New York Yankees will likely be in the pennant race. Politicians promise more than they can deliver. You get the gist of it. Most patterns are unspoken, but well understood.
One Bible pattern that is seemingly without exception is that God uses the humble while the proud, self-confident and powerful are only used by God as weapons of mass destruction- of themselves and others. I know of no exception to the rule. God even went on record in the word by (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; cf. Proverbs 16:5) making the claim more boldly than simply his commitment to bless the humble. God speaks in comparative terms of the humble and the proud. The humble are recipients of God’s grace. The proud are recipients of God’s opposition.
In their worst hour, David, Solomon, Saul (both New and Old Testament Sauls) Peter and Samson were hung up on their own power and influence. In their finest hour, each of these were broken, humbled and “counted their accomplishments as loss.” Mary was wise enough to acknowledge the same after Gabriel made his appearance to her. John the Baptist had to fight for the back of the bus. A broken thief on a cross was arguably the first person to enter heaven in the Christian era.
The humility equation is fool-proof. Brokenness added to yearning for God equals salvation and fullness.
So, why do we keep running toward self-advancement, self-justification, defensiveness, aggressiveness and ego boosting? Why do we seek to be around those who may have an inflated view of our value? Martin Luther said it well, “The old man is drowned in baptism. The problem is that the old man is a very good swimmer.” The one area that will always seem to re-emerge among the competent is the pride of self-sufficiency and accomplishment. We must, however, crumble to our knees, more than symbolically, and plead, more than politely, for God to put us in the best place for receive His grace. Then, magically and inexplicably, something happens. It happens every time. The humility equation works. It cannot be feign or contrived. It doesn’t work that way. Brokenness is just that. Seeking God instead of our own solution is just that.
Join me on the floor. Join me in tears. Join me in looking for God like never before. The weather is great down here.