Humility is often hard to find, especially among professional athletes, but Lou Gehrig was a man who modeled it well. This Hall of Fame first baseman was stricken with the rare and always fatal neuromuscular disease that is now named after him. Throughout his ordeal, Gehrig conducted himself with dignity and humility. On July 4, 1939, standing in front of a packed stadium, he thanked his fans for their years of kindness and encouragement and his family for all their support. The “Iron Horse” of baseball spoke humbly about his career and love of the game and famously declared, “For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” He recognized his blessings despite his circumstances. Lou died just two short years after this speech, but his skills and character are still celebrated today.
It is hard to see our blessings when we focus on our disappointments. Some people constantly complain about their circumstances and don’t appreciate all God has provided because they feel entitled to more, bigger, and better. The price of entitlement is great. It robs us of contentment, peace, and joy and keeps us from seeing God at work in us and through us during our trials. It’s the opposite of humility. This belief that you inherently deserve special treatment or certain privileges is seen in high-profile people, in everyday people, and even in ministry.
When we seek to serve and glorify God, we shouldn’t be overconfident in our own giftedness, service, or influence. Entitlement says, “I deserve more recognition, respect, opportunities, pay, and time off—an easier life.” The Bible says we all deserve punishment and death, separated from God forever, because the consequence of sin is death and “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). On our own, “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6). Entitlement has no part of the Gospel—for us or for Jesus. He did not deserve to die; we do. Keeping that perspective allows us to face trials with humility, see God at work, and be grateful for our blessings.
Trials are useful. Sometimes God uses trials to point others to Him. When Jesus healed a blind man and His disciples asked why he had been afflicted, Jesus answered, “…so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3b). Sometimes God uses trials to humble believers while refining their character. Trials keep us modest about our successes, too. Paul was blessed spiritually, saw the risen Christ several times, and was taken up into the third heaven, but the Lord also allowed him to suffer a “thorn in the flesh” to keep him from exalting himself (2 Corinthians 12:7). Trials can keep us fully dependent on God, reminding us that things like fame, power, position, and status cannot meet our deepest needs. Only God can provide the lasting peace, comfort, and joy we so desperately seek. Our dependence needs to be upon Him who is able and not upon our fleeting successes. When we approach our trials with humility, we are able to see our blessings and approach God with gratitude.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 103:1-5
Personal application: When you face trials, cry out to the Lord, but also praise Him for His goodness as Paul did: “Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). How do you face your trials? With entitlement or humility?
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5