UNPACK this...HumilitySample

"A Good Slice of Humble Pie"  

As sports fans, we love to hype up players, jump on bandwagons, and raise expectations for teams we think are great.

The Green Bay Packers had been picking up steam on the hype train early in the season. They started strong with wins against each team in their division and multiple wins in primetime. Aaron Rodgers had been playing at a high level with incredible throws and achieved a perfect passer rating against the Raiders.

Then surprisingly, the Packers looked terrible against the Chargers, with Rodgers having his worst game of the season: 161 yards total through the air and 23-of-35 passes with a single touchdown.

After losing 26–11, Rodgers made this humbling comment: “This is a good slice of humble pie for us. We’re kind of rolling, 7–1, and starting to listen to the chatter maybe a little too much. I think this will be a good thing for us.”

A team can definitely be rolling along, feeling good, getting caught up in the “press clippings,” buying their own hype, starting to think highly of themselves, and then BOOM, fall on their face with a shocking loss.

We, too, can be rolling right along, thinking we have it all together and nothing can stop us, buying our own hype, and then BOOM…fall! This happens when we lose focus on Jesus and shift our attention to our own “greatness.” We become more concerned with what others can do for us instead of how we can serve them.

However, the following principle is true in sports and life: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

Proverbs 16:18 gives us this verse to serve as a warning: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

When we have the proper view of who God is and recognize how undeserving we are of His grace and mercy, we’ll be overcome with humility. As we sense pride and arrogance creeping in, we must shift our focus back to Jesus before it causes us to fall and crumble.

Today, let’s choose humility and be encouraged by James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for thinking so much of myself. Help me remain humbly focused on You. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.