It Sounds So Easy
James 3:13-4:1-3, 7-8a
***Put Picture of Six Million Dollar Man on Screen***
I remember, as a real young kid, thinking that the guy who played the Six Million Dollar Man on t-v—Lee Majors and was married to Farrah Fawcett Majors was just the coolest person in the world—almost god-like!
Then, one day, my dad said to me: “Kenny, Lee Majors has to put his pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else.”
Obviously, this had an impact on me, because I have not forgotten it.
It can be hard to come to grips with the reality that the idols we sometimes worship are no better than we are.
And it may be harder still, for us to realize that we—ourselves—are no better than others.
I remember when my sister Lisa found out she was going to have to wear glasses.
She ran into the house, up the stairs and into her room crying and wailing.
I asked my mother why Lisa was so upset.
My mother responded, “Lisa has just found out that she is not perfect.”
Ever since the first two humans gave into the serpent’s temptation in the garden and then came to the realization that they were naked we humans have been trying to sew fig leaves together in order to cover our nakedness…
…our humanness…
…our faults, our fears, our sins—you name it!
But what was true in the Garden of Eden is true today—from birth to death—all of us stand naked before the God Who created us.
Nothing is left uncovered.
So, from the outside looking in, you wouldn’t think it would be all that difficult to be humble…
…but horror of horrors—it is very difficult.
The word from this morning’s reading that sticks out at me is Humility!
As we look around our culture and our world, humility is NOT something we easily find.
But when we do find it, there is nothing more beautiful.
***Put James 3:13 on Screen***
“Who is wise and understanding among you?” James asks. “Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
“Humility that comes from wisdom.”
The wisest are also the most humble.
You’d think it was the other way around.
You’d think the wisest would be the most arrogant…
…but then, when you really think about it…
…that couldn’t be true.
And that is because arrogance is absurd!
For any of us naked humans to think we are any better than anyone else is the most naïve and unwise thing imaginable—it’s funny, really, when you think about it—yet it happens all the time!
For example, have you ever passed someone begging on the side of a road and looked down on him or her?
Ever pass judgment?
Or have you ever tried to get a “leg up” on your neighbor, co-workers—whoever?
Have you ever done something just a little shifty to try and make yourself seem better than someone else?
Have you ever hurt someone in order to get ahead?
Have you ever bullied someone?
Have you ever gone along with the crowd to fit-in?
So many of us work so hard, get so stressed out, and expend so much energy trying to make other naked humans—who are just like ourselves--think we are something great!
And no matter how much we may say—even to ourselves—that we want to please God, we are really trying to impress other people.
When we read the stories of Jesus’ interactions with people, we witness true humility over and over again.
He values people who are habitually ignored or looked down upon by others: the homeless, the socially excluded, the sick, the lepers, the sinners, the prostitutes—you name it!
And as people who are trying to be like Christ—the word “Christians” literally means—“little Christs”—humility that comes from wisdom is the key to everything.
The Bible teaches us that the linchpin of wisdom is the Cross.
The Cross is the central moment at which the wisdom of God is displayed against the wisdom of the world.
We are also taught that this heavenly wisdom is foolishness to those who are perishing and a stumbling block to those who want their own way.
Even Jesus’ disciples had a hard time grasping what heavenly wisdom is.
One day, as they were following Jesus down a road they were having an argument among themselves as to which of them was the greatest.
Jesus used this as a teaching moment.
***Put Mark 9:35 NIV Translation on Screen***
He sat down and said to them, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
How are you, how am I doing at measuring our success, our greatness, not by what we take in but by what we give away?
Not by the influence we have, but by the selfless service we offer?
Not by accumulating more, but by sharing what we already have?
Not by being first, but by being eager to work hard in order to see others get ahead?
Make no mistake.
This stuff is not easy.
It was hard for the disciples and it’s hard for us.
But here’s the thing: the road the disciples were traveling on with Jesus when they fell into their petty arguments about who is the greatest was the road to Jerusalem and the Cross—where Jesus would sacrifice everything for a world of naked humans.
“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” or we could say, “While we were yet arguing on the road to the Cross about which one of us is the greatest—Christ died for us!”
It’s amazing and beautiful at the same time.
True greatness is to be like Jesus, a Truly Powerful Person, Who found the value of His life to be in embodying the will of God—which includes lowliness, humility, self-giving sacrifice—the Wisdom of God.
Jesus turns everything upside down or right side up.
He is the King, but He wears a crown of thorns.
He is the Christ—God in the flesh—but allows Himself to be broken on the Cross.
True greatness, true wisdom, we learn from Jesus Christ is determined by humility and vulnerability.
It’s determined by self-giving sacrifice, truthfulness and faithfulness.
And as Christ’s followers, Christ’s Church, Christ’s Body on this earth…
…if we are going to be like Him…
…if we are going to accomplish what we are capable of accomplishing we are going to have to embody His kind of greatness, His kind of Wisdom, so that the world can be transformed by a humility that is born out of LOVE.
Will you pray with me?
Wise and Humble God, we pray for Your humility that comes from wisdom.
We submit our lives to You that we may live our lives near to You—we pray that we will be pure in our thoughts, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
May we be peacemakers who sow in peace and reap a harvest of righteousness for the sake of You and Your Kingdom and all the other naked folks just like us Whom You so love.
We pray this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
