Downward Up

Solomon once wrote, "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor" (Prov 29:23).  

At first glance, this doesn't seem quite right as pride is usually seen as that which puffs us up and causes us to feel superior. True, but puffing up and feeling superior are illusions from the bottom. 

Several years ago, Tandie purchased me a series of golf lessons for my birthday.  One of the first things the pro said was, "Golf is a game of opposites.  You have to power down in order to cause the ball to rise up."  

Often, biblical truth seems that way. Here, in particular, puffing up with pride can keep you from mending a fence that might contain a gate to success later. It can keep you from listening to constructive criticism that might have helped to propel you further. It can keep you from admitting a fault you could have then changed and saved your marriage or career. 

Pride can keep you from serving and deny you from becoming more Christ-like. Humility, on the other hand, can cause you to defer to the person who can lift you up.  It can allow you to follow closely behind Christ as He brings help and healing to others and to you as well. Humility places you in the position to be blessed by God (cf. James 4:10). 

Opposite from the natural man's thinking as it may be, the way up spiritually is down. By the way, my new downward golf stroke caused more upward motion. But I find playing every year or two keeeps me in the duffer zone. That principle holds true for spiritual development as well. Jus' Sayn.

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