... encourage each other and build
each other up. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“My grandpa was a rocket scientist,” my friend Derek
informed me. “He invented things that go to the moon.” I thought about that for
a minute. What had my family done that was as impressive as that? Suddenly, it
dawned on me and I blurted out, “My great uncle invented cheese whiz!” My
friend stared at me for a moment trying to grasp if I was serious, and finally burst
into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Once I thought about it, I had to agree
that it was kind of funny. After all, his grandpa had invented a rocket, while
my claim to fame was a relation who had invented spreadable cheese. I must
admit, I sounded rather puny in comparison.
My whole
life I’ve always found myself trying to one-up people. Someone would say, “My daddy’s a doctor.” Of
course, I had to counter them. “My daddy was a football player, and then he was
an air force pilot. Beat that!”
Why is
it that whenever someone states something good about themselves, I feel the
need to counter it with something better about myself? In my selfish heart I
always feel the need to build myself up to be better than those around me. I
think that it makes me look better in others’ eyes, when in reality it merely
makes me appear self-absorbed and insecure.
Instead
of constantly breaking each other down, shouldn’t we be building each other up?
When Jesus was on earth, He didn’t seek fame and glory for Himself. He was the
most humble, down-to-earth man ever to walk the earth, and we are to follow in
His footsteps.
