It’s probably the hardest lesson a success-oriented individual can ever learn. Most of us aren’t nearly as important as we think we are – and sometimes as others tell us we are. One of the wonderful things about Christ’s religion is that it puts everyone on the same rung of the ladder – Christ is the great equalizer.
There’s a story of a newly elected politician who went to our nation’s capital to get acquainted with the place. At the home of a high-ranking senator, he was trying to get the feel of this great city and all he anticipated he would be able to accomplish. He greatly admired the prominence of his host and spoke of his grandiose intentions and plans. Somewhere, back in his mind, he even entertained the possibility of actually running things in the country from the White House.
As they looked out over the Potomac River, they noticed a log floating downstream. It was rotten, old, deteriorating, obviously of no worth.
The older senator said to his young friend, “You know, that log is about a perfect example of what this city is and what our nation is becoming.”
“How’s that?” asked his young friend.
“Well you see, there are probably hundreds of grub worms, no telling how many ants, bugs and critters of about every kind you can name, and they’re just floating down the stream on that rotten old log,” the older senator said.
“Well, how’s that like this city?” the young man said aloud.
“It’s simple,” said the senior senator, “Every one of those critters thinks he’s steering the log.”
With no intent to bemean the government, how true it is in almost every area of life that ambition often outruns reality. It is the meek who inherit the earth, not the mighty. It is the poor in spirit who enjoy the rule of God – not the arrogant and haughty.
Paul summed all this up quite nicely: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Rom. 12:3.