We Still Sit Only on Our Own Bottom
Proverbs 3:1–12
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in."
King Solomon, in all his garb, splendour, and wisdom, tells his son to "trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes (vv. 5-7)." 16th century French thinker Michel de Montaigne wrote, “On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.” I found this an amusing thought and I think it relates to humility that we are all human and of equal worth irrespective of social status especially in the eyes of God. Let us not be haughty as we approach the new year; the Apostle James reminds us, "now listen, you who say, "today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money," then he rhetorically asks as he exhorts us, "why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that (Jam 4:13-15)." Little did we know, because of a lopsided popular media, of underlying trends that 2017 saw humility as "the latest badge of virtue for those in positions of influence" according to MLM. Heyden and M. Hayward (associate professors of International Business at Monash) From politicians, to executives, to chart-topping artists. "The idea of a humble CEO is a romantic departure from the greedy self-serving corporate hero. Rather, when faced with adversity, humble CEOs sacrifice their own interests for the greater good." That's all good, however, the professors write, "humility is at risk of becoming the latest leadership buzzword", and that it still "is a precious, but rare, commodity in the executive suite", they conclude "staying genuinely humble through progressive stages of high achievement is difficult for CEOs. Those who are authentically humble, in turn, face distinct challenges that may trump the benefits of their humility... organisations that manage to find an authentically humble CEO, however, may just have an edge." I guess it requires some balance of self-confidence and being humble, after all, self pity is also too much self-love and that inferiority complex is also a form of pride, we all know our tendencies and by the Holy Spirit, I pray we all be made accurately self-aware (~Rom 12:3, Prov 20:5). But overall, this is a good reminder nevertheless, that ultimately, God directs my life and I can trust Him in overall success and in temporary failures, because of His goodness, as it is written, and as He has proved to me, not that He owed me anything but because He is kind and patient, time and time again (and yet I keep on doubting): "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps (Prov 16:9)."
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in."
King Solomon, in all his garb, splendour, and wisdom, tells his son to "trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes (vv. 5-7)." 16th century French thinker Michel de Montaigne wrote, “On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.” I found this an amusing thought and I think it relates to humility that we are all human and of equal worth irrespective of social status especially in the eyes of God. Let us not be haughty as we approach the new year; the Apostle James reminds us, "now listen, you who say, "today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money," then he rhetorically asks as he exhorts us, "why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that (Jam 4:13-15)." Little did we know, because of a lopsided popular media, of underlying trends that 2017 saw humility as "the latest badge of virtue for those in positions of influence" according to MLM. Heyden and M. Hayward (associate professors of International Business at Monash) From politicians, to executives, to chart-topping artists. "The idea of a humble CEO is a romantic departure from the greedy self-serving corporate hero. Rather, when faced with adversity, humble CEOs sacrifice their own interests for the greater good." That's all good, however, the professors write, "humility is at risk of becoming the latest leadership buzzword", and that it still "is a precious, but rare, commodity in the executive suite", they conclude "staying genuinely humble through progressive stages of high achievement is difficult for CEOs. Those who are authentically humble, in turn, face distinct challenges that may trump the benefits of their humility... organisations that manage to find an authentically humble CEO, however, may just have an edge." I guess it requires some balance of self-confidence and being humble, after all, self pity is also too much self-love and that inferiority complex is also a form of pride, we all know our tendencies and by the Holy Spirit, I pray we all be made accurately self-aware (~Rom 12:3, Prov 20:5). But overall, this is a good reminder nevertheless, that ultimately, God directs my life and I can trust Him in overall success and in temporary failures, because of His goodness, as it is written, and as He has proved to me, not that He owed me anything but because He is kind and patient, time and time again (and yet I keep on doubting): "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps (Prov 16:9)."
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