I Samuel 9:21
‘Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”’
Saul seems genuinely surprised to hear the prophet speak of him and his family so highly. Saul is a humble person. I believe if everyone is honest with themselves they would be equally as humble.
Our sin nature causes trouble for us. It gravitates towards selfishness and sin constantly. We get envious and think ill of others that seem to interfere with our wishes. This is true for the most privileged and and the least among us. Our issues will be different, but our selfishness taints our lives.
While life is amazing, it has plenty of difficulties. Jesus affirms this in Matthew 6:34b, “each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” Early in Genesis life’s difficulties are mentioned. One reference speaks of the frustration that accompanies work, “thorns and thistles will it bear”, (3:18). Even though the field is cultivated and cared for, the produce will be mixed.
A second reference in Genesis is the strain in the marriage relationship. 3:16 speaks of the pain in childbirth and that the wife’s desire will be for her husband. This isn’t a positive desire. The same word desire is used in 4:7. It says that sin’s desire seeks to wreck us. There appears to be a natural competition in marriage that complicates it.
All this is to say that all of us have difficulties that can sour life. We should be as humble as Saul. Why aren’t we? Social media is an example of a lack of humility. There is much self promotion. Thus, much envy. All of our lives are difficult, yet only the triumphs and highlights are shared. This isn’t honest. True, people don’t want to hear about complaints and drama, but there shouldn’t be such a shout with the positives.
Another truth about life is that we need the Lord. It was designed for reliance upon Him. Peter says that we should cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. Paul says we are to pray without ceasing. This tells us that we are to be in constant communication with Him. We are to share our desires and fears with Him. He wants us to ask Him for help and direction. We are to be dependent on Him. The longer we walk with Christ, the more we know that we greatly need Him. This prompts a humble response.
Lord, thank You that You are there for us and want us to rely on You. Help us with life’s difficulties. Help us to walk humbly with You.