By Bob Bunn
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:5, Psalm 37:10-11, Deuteronomy 8:11-18, Zephaniah 3:11-13, Luke 18:9-14
Scotty did what no other kid in our room would do. He tied my shoe.
While at our student ministry’s summer camp, I suffered a serious injury. A fall off a step resulted in three tendons being ruptured in my knee. Since camp was ending the next day, the local emergency room doctor provided an immobilizing brace, a pair of crutches, and instructions to contact my primary care physician once I got home.
The next morning, I realized that brace created some serious limitations. While I could slide my shoe onto my foot, I couldn’t reach the laces because my knee didn’t bend.
Enter Scotty, a rising senior with a heart of gold. In an image that reminded me of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, Scotty knelt down and tied my shoe. It was an act of humility and kindness I will never forget.
But I shouldn’t have been surprised. I’ve known Scotty since he was a little kid. I’ve watched him grow up, and I’ve watched him consistently put the needs of others ahead of his own. He had no qualms about tying my shoe because serving others—being the hands and feet of Jesus—isn’t just what Scotty does. It’s who he is.
Several months later, I spoke at our church’s senior recognition breakfast. I addressed each graduate personally; and, as I spoke to Scotty, I thanked him again for tying my shoe. And I spoke Matthew 5:5 over his life. I reminded him that the humble inherit the earth.
Humility gets a bad rap in our culture. People too easily confuse humility with humiliation, so they understandably don’t want any part of it. But Jesus emphasized that humility is a hallmark of His people. What seems to be a dead-end street to many actually comes with an incredible reward.
From Jesus’s perspective, getting ahead means putting others first.
Want to rule the world? That’s easy…serve others.
In another Gospel, Jesus told a story about the power of humility. In Luke 18, He shared a parable about an arrogant religious leader who thought he had all the pieces of the puzzle in place. This guy expressed gratitude in the most ungrateful way. In fact, his attitude suggested that God should be thanking him for being such a great guy.
Across the room, though, a tax collector prayed with a different spirit, a humble spirit. Struck by his own unworthiness, this man couldn’t even lift his eyes toward heaven. Instead, he humbly begged God for mercy and grace.
In the end, Jesus said, humility carried the day. While the religious leader missed the point, the tax collector experienced forgiveness. In God’s eyes, this simple man had conquered the world on his knees.
When I wonder if humility is worth the effort, I think about Scotty at camp. And I think about the tax collector in Luke 18. And I remember that the only way to see the blessings of heaven here on earth is to look through the lens of humility.
Written by Bob Bunn
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