Last Sunday morning, as I was leaving our home to go to church, Shannon took a good hard look and said, “You’re not wearing that tie to church, are you? It doesn’t match anything.”
Now think about that for a moment. My wife clearly saw the tie I tied around my neck was the tie I intended to wear to church. It was pretty darned clear.
I was highly offended by what my wife saw as my inability to match a tie to a shirt. I explained if I could jump out of planes, command tanks, get a doctorate, preach the greatest sermons in the history of sermons, raise the two most beautiful daughters the world has ever seen, and pastor the greatest church in the history of churches, I was qualified to pick out a tie. I also explained that I am so good looking that any tie looks good on me.
As I offered my brilliant defense, Shannon walked to the closet and came back with a different tie. It was clear she wasn’t paying attention to anything I said. That’s the moment I understood Shannon was not nearly as impressed with me as I am.
Are you impressed with yourself? If so, why? Be very careful because you are standing on a slippery slope.
The moment we become impressed with ourselves is the moment we forget that all our talents, gifts, attributes, and accomplishments ultimately come from the same place. They come from God.
After King Nebuchadnezzar was warned not to think more of himself than he should, he found himself looking over his vast empire. He said, “Look what I have done. I did it on my own. I am wonderful.” At that moment, God reminded him who was truly in control and Nebuchadnezzar paid a high price for his arrogance.
James reminds us that our gifts come from God by saying: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)
The important thing to remember is that arrogance is the root of sin. It is assigning too much importance to self and not enough importance to God. It is something that all of us struggle with on one level or another.
Take a moment to give God thanks for all the blessings that he has placed in your life. That’s the best way to start the day.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for any gifts that I possess. I humbly ask that you enable me to use any talents I may have to bring glory to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Just for the record, while I truly believe any gifts I posses come from God, I still think I looked good in that tie. Just saying.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 