“If you put it together, it goes together” was my paternal grandfather’s philosophy on matching clothes. It’s why he could stroll into the living room with striped pants, a checkered shirt and a pin-striped coat and ask my grandmother; “Does this match?” I never witnessed her laugh at him, but she would gently say, “No it doesn’t,” and steer him to a few changes.
What we dress ourselves with is important. Proper apparel may determine whether we’re hired for a particular job, if our children are sent home from school to change clothes or whether we catch the eye of a prospective date.
David had something else in mind that’s essential to our wardrobe: humility. I will not endure conceit and pride (Psalm 101:5 NLT).
My grandfather wore this as well. At five foot six, 165 pounds, he didn’t have an impressive physique. Nor did his voice resonate with deep baritone octaves. His genealogical tree bore no famous or wealthy ancestors, and he carried on the tradition. He was just a simple man who enjoyed loving people. But he did manage to bear the most important fruit of humility. He never considered himself better than others, and he realized his life’s station was solely because of God’s grace. Not a bad combination.
Humility isn’t weak spiritedness or low self-esteem. Humility is acknowledging God as responsible for who we presently are, what we currently have, and for all we’ll ever be. When dressed in humility, we’ll never think more highly of ourselves than we should, and our horizontal relationship with the Father will improve our vertical connections with others. Be proud, but only because of who you are in Christ.
Prayer: Remind us Lord Jesus that we’re only who we are because of who You are.
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