“The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then also peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere” (James 3:17). Amen.
On the way through Galilee to Capernaum, Jesus is once again teaching his disciples about his Passion – that he is going to be rejected, arrested and crucified, and then after three days rise again. The disciples didn’t understand this before … and they don’t understand it now. The last time they asked Jesus about his Passion they were called “slow to believe” and “Satan.” They didn’t want that again. They are afraid, so this time, they just kept their mouths shut.
At least in front of Jesus. But it’s a different story behind his back. They don’t understand all this suffering and dying talk. They’ve heard Jesus’ powerful sermons and witnessed his extraordinary miracles and they thought he was going places! He could establish a new kingdom in Jerusalem instead of the hated Roman rule. So, they ignore the talk of the cross and begin arguing about which of them would be Jesus’ campaign manager. Which of them was his favorite disciple. Which of them would become his right hand man.
Peter, of course, would have begun. “I’m the guy who walks on water. I’m the one that Jesus has nicknamed Rocky. I’m the greatest.”
Matthew countered, “Well, you may be the guy who walks on water, but you're also the guy who sinks. How about me? You know, I left a very lucrative government job to follow Jesus. I think I’m the greatest.”
And Thomas said, “I doubt it.”
John quietly confessed, “But I’m the disciple that Jesus loves.”
James added, “I’m part of Jesus’ inner circle, along with Peter and John.”
Judas chimed in, “Yes, but Jesus trusts me with the money.”
Nathanael said, “Jesus selected me before he ever saw me and I think that makes me very special.”
Andrew had them all beat, “But I was picked to be a disciple first. First is first, guys.”
This conversation went on for the whole trip. So, imagine their surprise when they arrive in Capernaum and Jesus knows what they are arguing about. Oh, he asks them … but he already knows … and they know he knows … and they are embarrassed. And that’s when Jesus drops a bombshell on them: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” In other words, if you want to be number one, be number twelve. If you want glory, be humble. Or, if your last name happens to start with Z, you get to go to the front of the line.
The disciples found it necessary to figure out who among them was the greatest. Their sinful pride was getting the better of them. It’s like the story about Muhammad Ali in his prime getting on an airplane and the flight attendant kindly asking him to buckle his seat belt. “Superman don’t need no seat belt,” Ali boasted. To which she replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane either.”
The Bible preaches that humility is wisdom (James 3:13) but that God detests the proud (Proverbs 16:5). In fact, Solomon writes that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34). The Bible is filled with people who fell from their lofty perch of self-promoted greatness. Miriam mocked her younger brother Moses for marrying a foreigner and the Lord gave her leprosy for seven days. King Solomon built a magnificent temple for the Lord, but his faith became lost in too much worldly wisdom, too much money and too much sex. King Hezekiah was proud and did not thank God for curing his illness, so the Lord’s wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem.
Pride is a disease that infects every one of us. Spouses hurt the one they love because they don’t want to put the other first in their marriage. Teenagers remain sullen and locked in their rooms, thinking they are fine while fighting their depression. Neighbors quibble over property lines. Coworkers argue over recognition. Motorists jockey for position on the freeway. It’s all pride.
Think about the conversations you have – at school, in the workplace, in your home, in your neighborhood, at church. Are you tearing others down or building them up? Are you griping or bearing good fruit? Are you instilling peace or creating disharmony? Are your conversations seasoned with salt or spice? Are your discussions considerate and submissive or complaining and self-important?
St. James has some strong words for all of us. The way Christians speak to and about each other obviously is an ancient problem. “Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and every bad practice. But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then also peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere” (James 3:16-17).
James encourages humility. Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride is a terrible master. Pride keeps us aware of our own hurt feelings so that we don’t notice the pain in others - even hurts that we have caused. Pride turns misunderstandings into arguments and arguments into fights. Pride makes people sullen, brooding over the changeless past. Pride makes us feel that we are better than others. Pride separates and divides us from others. It categorizes, classifies and codifies. Pride seduces us into thinking that we are innocent and have it all together. And if you think you don’t have a problem with pride, listen to St. Paul: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12)!
Jesus settles the disciples’ prideful argument by bringing a child into the disciples’ discussion and teaches, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” With this, Jesus not only shatters their pride and explodes their notion of greatness, but he also gives them a picture of himself. The Son of God, who, though the greatest, became for us the least. The King who left his throne in heaven to become a child in the womb of Mary. The Creator became a creature. He emptied himself of all his heavenly splendor, taking the very nature of a servant. The One who was subject to no laws, put himself under the laws of both God and Caesar. The One who is the Giver of Life, surrendering his life to be executed on a cross.
St. Paul tells us succinctly how much Jesus humbled himself. “Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Jesus is the answer to the disciples’ argument. The Greatest One was standing right in the midst of them, serving them as a labor of love. Coming and serving the least, the lowest, the outcast, the sinner, and even those twelve who were arguing that day about who was the greatest. Coming in humility and compassion toward us helpless children. Giving his life so we might have life. Risen and glorified, he now calls us to believe in him and serve others in humility.
In Jesus we see true greatness and glory in the eyes of God – in his humility, in lowering himself, in his self-sacrifice. Greatness in the eyes of God is not ascending to the heights but descending to the depths. It is not being served but serving others. It is not elevating yourself but laying down your life for others.
This is the cure for pride – repentance, forgiveness and then joyful service.
In my counseling sessions, I now spend time speaking about humility vs. pride. Many of our issues can be softened with Christ-like humility. The arguments in the home can be silenced as we look for common ground instead of looking to be right. The angry outbursts can be cut off by taking words and actions in the kindest possible way. The despair that’s felt when things aren’t going well can be lightened as we humbly come to God in prayer asking for his grace and mercy.
How many of our marriages can be healed by humbly putting our spouse first?
How many angry outbursts can be tamed by humbly seeing the other person’s point of view?
How many sleepless nights can be spared by giving everything over to God in humble prayer?
How many relationships can be saved by checking our pride at the door and entering the house with humility?
True humility is not thinking lowly of yourself but thinking accurately of yourself. St. Paul encourages, “Consider one another better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). This means that you are quick to applaud the success of others. You don’t question motives but quickly offer help when it’s needed. You put your needs after the needs of others.
Radio humorist Garrison Keillor once asked his mother, “Mom, am I good-looking? Her modest, Midwestern reply was, “You’re good-looking enough, dear.” Humility is learned behavior. By nature, we are miniature Satans – full of ourselves, prideful, interested in only one agenda in life – ours. Other people are just bit players and props in the drama of Me.
It is natural to crave attention and to boast. It is Christian to praise others first and wait patiently for others to discover our own brilliance. Our Lord Jesus is both our example and teacher, the divine Redeemer who came to earth not to be served but to serve. He was content to be known as a carpenter. He was happy to be mistaken for the gardener. He served his followers by washing their feet. If Jesus is so willing to honor use, can we not do the same for others?
We think, “I am the greatest, (or at least better than most).” The Bible says such sinful pride “does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (James 3:15). Sinful pride is deceptive, dangerous, and directly connected to the devil.
To prevent this pride, the Bible says, “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’”
Greatness is not in driving out demons, healing the sick or converting the crowd. Greatness is not gaining a promotion, expanding your business or earning another degree. God’s greatness is repenting of our pride, humbly receiving forgiveness, and then praying for a spirit of serving in humility. God’s greatness is praying for the hurting, filling up a food pantry, visiting the sick, holding the hand of the grieving or giving a cup of cold water to the thirsting. All done out of faith in Christ, the servant of all.
Greatness is the elderly husband who paints the nails of his wife in hospice care.
Greatness is the grandmother who teaches her grandchildren how to bake in the kitchen,
Greatness is the father who leaves work early to attend his kids’ athletic events and the mother who changes another dirty diaper.
Greatness is speaking words of kindness, helping those in need, taking words and actions in the kindest possible way.
It’s O.K. to be humble. It’s O.K. to be courteous. It’s O.K. to be gentle. It’s O.K. to be last. It’s O.K. to lose the argument. It’s O.K. to let others take the recognition. Not O.K. in the eyes of the world. But it is O.K. in the eyes of God. For that’s what makes you great.
For this is the humility of a child. Amen.
“A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who practice peace” (James 3:18). Amen.