God's Last Words

“A Spade is Just a Fancy Name for a Shovel”
Matthew 23: 1-12

A religious leader and his associate were rehearsing a service. To make his point more dramatic the minister fell to his knees, beat his breast and said, “I am nothing. I am nothing.” Then his associate fell to his knees, beat upon his breast, and repeated, “I am nothing. I am nothing.”

The janitor witnessed this scene. Moved by what he had seen and had heard, the janitor fell to his knees and cried, “I am nothing. I am nothing.”

When the minister and associate heard the janitor, the minister turned to the associate and said, “So look who has the gall to think he is nothing!”

Humbleness, or humility is greatly prized as a character trait. It suggests that the person has an openness to criticism and advice, and is not conceited or stubborn enough not to learn new lessons in life. We want our heroes, public servants, and medical professionals to be humble.

I’m reminded of a peanuts comic strip I once read. Linus and Charlie Brown are talking about what they want to be when they grow up. Linus says, “When I get big I’m going to be a humble country doctor. I’ll live in the city, see, and every morning I’ll get up, climb into my sports car and zoom into the country! Then I’ll start healing people. I’ll heal everybody for miles around. “

Then Linus concludes his speech by saying, “”I’ll be a world famous humble little country doctor.”

Remember the song that went, “It’s hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way?” I thank God that every time I start getting a handle on thinking I might be doing something right, something will slap me in the face to remind me I’m not even close. It’s kind of like a humility shirt I wear. I know a pastor who talks about the food stains on his shirt as the “family birthmark.”

I know I’m never going to be perfect – but I also know I don’t have to be, and I think that’s a step toward being humble, at least.

A humble country pastor was asked to give the opening and closing prayers at a large church conference where the biggest names in the religious world were speaking. A member of his congregation asked him later how he felt being given such an honor.

The pastor replied in this way, “A farmer once put his mule in a horse race and his friends said to him, ‘Silly, that mule can’t run with those thoroughbreds.’ The farmer said, ‘I know it, but you have no idea how good it makes him feel to be with all those horses.’”

The first step toward humbleness is in plain speaking. Not ducking issues and living in the real world is necessary. But this won’t make you popular. Learning to admit that a “spade,” is just a fancy name for a shovel, is a tough road to walk, and must be taught from an early age. Having respect for ourselves and others helps.

Let’s see what Jesus taught about humbleness - Matthew 23: 1-12:

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.

And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father--the one in heaven.

Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

One of the greatest preachers in American History, Jonathan Edwards, said, “Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility.”

William Stekel once said, “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”

And finally, Arthur Schopenhauer wrote, “We forfeit three-fourths of ourselves in order to be liked by other people.” True humbleness means living in the real world of self-awareness, purpose, and the meaning of God’s grace.

To do that we must not only know truth, but live it as well, “warts and all.” How can we get in touch with humbleness? It’s linked to the most important thing a parent can instill in a child, that of respect.

Let’s look at the fifth commandment. This God-given boundary comes with a promise. Here’s what God said: “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”  (Exodus 20: 12, NRSV)

What does it mean to honor your father and mother? In the original language the word “honor” can literally mean “to make heavy.” In other words, we are not to take our parents lightly. God calls us to actively give them respect and reverence.

This 5^th commandment is tough to chew on because we live in an age of disrespect. Youth is glorified and old age is seen as something to avoid at all costs. On TV and in the movies children are most often portrayed as the witty heroes.

Parents tend to be seen as pathetic, overbearing buffoons, especially dads. Think Al Bundy, Homer Simpson, or Archie Bunker? The elderly are most often viewed as senile and to be avoided if you want to have a good time. In this case it seems that the media is reflecting the attitude of the culture, disrespect of parents and grandparents.

Just as with all of God’s commandments, this one has terrible consequences for nations and individuals if it’s not heeded. We live in a nation where people think they know everything. They don’t need to be humble, nor do they need to show respect for others.

It destroys humbleness before your parents, family, and God. Humbleness must start at home. Respect must start at home.

Why should we insist on respect? Obviously it teaches children to honor authority and submit yourself to it. The health of the family reflects the health of the nation. The 5^th Commandment extends to other areas of authority in society as well.

Zacharius Ursinus, who wrote the Heidelburg Catechism, said this:   

“The design or end of this commandment is the preservation of civil order, which God has appointed in the mutual duties between inferiors and their superiors. Superiors are all those whom God has placed over others, for the purpose of governing and defending them.  Inferiors are those whom God has placed under others, that they may be governed and defended by them.”

In other words, children who have learned to honor their parents in turn respect those in authority over them. This enables them to be upright, law-abiding citizens.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger, in her book about the 10 commandments writes:

Parents are teachers of faith and morality. What God is to the world, parents are to their children. Unfortunately, some parents become so focused on the element of friendship or their own convenience, comfort, self-fulfillment, happiness, or love life that they forget their job is to help mold moral character so their children will have the strength to do what is right in a world that sometimes encourages them to do otherwise.

The 5^th commandment has a reciprocal effect. The honor you give is the honor you will receive. It is a two-way street requiring you as a parent to respect both your children and your own parents.

Teach your children to respect you. Ephesians 6: 1-4, NRSV):

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"--this is the first commandment with a promise: "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

We teach respect when we love them unconditionally, encourage them by lifting them up, limiting them by providing boundaries and guidance, and leading them in what’s right and what’s not right.

Proverbs 22: 6 tells us: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Respect must be taught before it is sought. However, honor must also be caught.

Our children need to see respect in us. Respect for ourselves, respect for them, and respect for others. It is only through self-understanding can we become humble enough to concentrate on the truly important things in life.

Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character. If you always worry about who you are and where you should be then you’ll never become and do what God wants you to do.

Lastly, I think Jesus is telling us in this passage this message: “The person with true humility never has to be shown his place, he is always in it.” Amen.