“Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” Proverbs 25:6-7
It is always great to hear the words of Jesus echoed in the Old Testament. It gives us a reminder that He was not disconnected from what came before; He was certainly not some illiterate preacher. He was well-versed in the Word of God being the Word made flesh.
Jesus, like Solomon, calls us to humility, but not a milquetoast humility characterized by weakness, timidity, or unassertiveness. He calls us, rather, to the humility that He displayed - one of respect and love toward God and others. Jesus was neither weak, timid, nor unassertive. His demeanor and actions were strong, bold, and forceful, but always in accordance with the will of God the Father and in love for those with whom He came in contact.
Unfortunately, we have come to associate humility with weakness and wimpy behavior. Anything less is considered arrogant or prideful. Not so. To take the lower place in our relationship God and others takes strength and courage. In doing so, God will elevate us to heights we can never imagine.
Prayer: Lord God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, create in me a humility that will allow me to follow you and your will rather than my own so that I might love my neighbor as you have loved me, as I am called to love myself. In this humility, make me bold to proclaim your Word and to serve others. Amen.