Before I draw a parallel between humility and the humble egg, here are some fun facts especially for egg lovers. Unlike most cereals and yogurts, eggs contain only one ingredient – “eggs.” They don’t contain any sugar nor carbohydrates. And at only 15 to 25 cents each, they’re the least expensive source of high quality protein that’s also low in calorie and rich in nutrients. Okay, now for the analogy:
“If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If an egg is broken by an inside force, life begins. Great things happen from the inside.”
Being broken before the Lord is the first step towards greatness. Jesus said, “The Kingdom is within you” (Luke 17:21) and one manifestation of the Kingdom is humility. Here are some thoughts on humility.
1. Without Humility, there’s no Progression.
The whole Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 is built upon the Beatitudes; and the Beatitudes begin with being poor in spirit (Matt 5:3). The Beatitudes are given in ascending order; which means to progress to the second base, you’ve to clear the first base. You cannot be meek unless you’ve learned to mourn, and you can’t really mourn if you don’t know that you’re poor in spirit.
The apostle James tells us in James 4:6 (NLT) that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humility is essential for our progression and spiritual growth and in the absence of it, we just stagnate in God. The absence of humility in our lives means that God will oppose us.
This is the one virtue that opens us up to all other spiritual realities. It’s the key that unlocks the door of heaven to us. Humility can be defined this way – “It’s like a treasure chest that bears all the greatest gifts, graces and riches in the Kingdom of Heaven.” It’s the mother of all virtues and we must seek it eagerly and earnestly with all our hearts.
Now not only did Jesus teach extensively on this subject, He also modeled it for us in very real ways. Jesus IS humility personified. When He washed the disciples’ feet just before the Last Supper, He was showing us that humility is the key to unity.
2. Without Humility, there’s no Promotion
David didn’t go to the battlefield to fight Goliath. He went there to deliver food to his brothers, as instructed by their father Jesse (1 Sam 17:17). Now, you’ve to understand that just one chapter before this episode, the prophet Samuel anointed David with the horn of oil as the next king of Israel in the presence of all his brothers (1 Sam 16:13). Imagine if David refused to obey his father’s instruction because he had thought to himself, “How can the next king of Israel do such lowly task?”
Instead, David humbled himself and went to deliver food to his brothers (1 Sam 17:20). On that fateful day, he went to the battlefield with a lunch bag, but came back with Goliath’s head. 1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV) says it this way, “…humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” You cannot kill your Goliath until you’re willing to humble yourself and serve others. David did it and was exalted that day.
Fast forward to the Son of David, our Lord Jesus. He didn’t go to the Cross riding on a white horse with 10,000 soldiers. He didn’t go as a King or as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, although He is. He humbled Himself and went as the perfect Lamb of God.
3. Can Cornerstone also be known for our Humility?
God has blessed Cornerstone with influence and affluence; the many successful conferences we’ve organised and the wide network of friends and ministry partners around the world. Can we also be known for our humility? Can we be a people who do what’s right in the eyes of God, love mercy and walk humbly with Him? (Micah 6:8)
In Cornerstone, one of our earnest prayers is that “we’ll remain small in our own eyes.” Humility also plays a big part in our selection of leaders. Arrogance and pride are the things we dislike in Cornerstone. A proud Christian is an oxymoron.
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself;
It’s thinking of yourself less.”
~ C.S. Lewis
The next time when you’re having a fried egg or an egg dish, stop; pause and “Remember the Egg!”
Have an “egg-citing” week ahead!
