Humility in Ministry: A Lesson from Gideon
Verses:Judges 8:1-4 "The Ephraimites asked Gideon, 'Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?' And they criticized him sharply. But he answered them, 'What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?' At this, their resentment against him subsided."
As we reflect on this passage, we see a remarkable example of humility and wisdom in Gideon's response to the Ephraimites' criticism. Despite being the leader of the army that defeated the Midianites, Gideon did not let pride or defensiveness get the better of him. Instead, he chose to humble himself and acknowledge the contributions of the Ephraimites.
Gideon's response is a powerful reminder that our complexes, sentiments, and personality drawbacks must not taint God's fair display. As servants of God, we must be mindful of our own limitations and weaknesses, and be willing to humble ourselves before others. By doing so, we can reflect God's wisdom and humility, and avoid polluting His ministry.
Gideon's humility was not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength. He knew that he had been chosen by God to lead the army, and that God had given him the victory. Therefore, he did not feel the need to defend himself or his actions. Instead, he chose to exalt the Ephraimites and acknowledge their contributions to the victory.
As we seek to follow God's leading in our lives, we must remember that our goal is not to promote ourselves or our own achievements, but to exalt God and His wisdom. By embracing God's mood and reflecting His wisdom, we can participate in His sovereign plan and experience the joy of serving Him.
Gideon's example teaches us that true greatness is not measured by our accomplishments or our status, but by our humility and our willingness to serve others. As we strive to be like Gideon, let us remember that humility is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength. It is the key to unlocking God's wisdom and power in our lives.
As we reflect on Gideon's humility, let us also remember that our humility must be genuine and sincere. We must not humble ourselves before others in order to gain their approval or recognition, but rather because we genuinely recognize our own limitations and weaknesses. By doing so, we can reflect God's wisdom and humility, and avoid polluting His ministry.
Prayer:
Dear God, help us to humble ourselves before You and before others. May we recognize our limitations and weaknesses, and be willing to acknowledge the contributions of those around us. Give us the wisdom to reflect Your humility and wisdom, and to avoid polluting Your ministry. May we exalt You and Your wisdom in all that we do. Amen.