Big Head Big Fall
“Then they said, “Come let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous…” — Genesis 11:4
I’m not conceited, but I have a big head. Literally. The “one size fits all” promo when it comes to head apparel? Um. Not so much.
One of the peeps in the Monday morning meeting said, “You don’t take a compliment well.”
Good.
Seriously. Good. Finally, I am getting it. Finally, I am understanding at least ONE thing God wants me to get, which is this: it is not about me; it is all about God in me.
That alone isn’t enough, meaning I can’t just stop there. Instead, it’s about letting others know that it’s all about God in me.
When talking about work in or around the church, my favorite Jesus people say what is true, “It isn’t me. I just show up. It is God in me or through me.”
The story of Babel speaks to this. The people were all about—and into—themselves. This tower, this ziggurat, was a testament to their greatness. The prevailing thought being built more than the tower itself was this: if you want to be famous, do something great, like build a super tower with your name on it.
Building or doing great things is great, absolutely. Have at it! Just give God the credit. If we don’t, we may fall.
The phrase, ‘Pride comes before a fall’ (which is based on Proverbs 16:18) means that one becomes over confident and stops thinking sensibly when success in self is the goal.
If I could make my head size smaller, I would. Since I can’t do this literally, there is another way. I can give praise rightly, and this praise of good things goes to God, not me.
LORD: May we build great things for you today in what we say about you. Amen.
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