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- Oct 26, 2007
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Don't boast about yourself before the king, and don't stand in the place of the great; for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here! " than to demote you in plain view of a noble. Proverbs 25:6-7 CSB
Humans have an interesting relationship with the earth. Adam’s name comes from the Hebrew word for ground: adamah. Similarly, the word human comes from a Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root—“dhghem—which means “earth.” There is something intrinsically linked with the ground we were created from, the soil we depend on for food, and the dirt to which our bodies will return.
The PIE root for “earth” also shows up in the words humility and humiliation. Both words mean to be brought low to the ground. The difference between them comes from the circumstances by which we are brought low.
Today’s passage encourages readers to stay humble, even when we believe we have achievements worth bragging about, to stay low until those in authority recognize our accomplishments and raise us up. When we brag about ourselves, we are apt to be brought low in front of everyone.
One day, our bodies will return to the dirt and we’ll bow down before our Creator. Our highest earthly accomplishments won’t matter; only what we’ve done with God’s love will. On that day, will He raise you up or bring you low?
Prayer: Lord, keep my heart humble so I might one day be lifted up.
Humans have an interesting relationship with the earth. Adam’s name comes from the Hebrew word for ground: adamah. Similarly, the word human comes from a Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root—“dhghem—which means “earth.” There is something intrinsically linked with the ground we were created from, the soil we depend on for food, and the dirt to which our bodies will return.
The PIE root for “earth” also shows up in the words humility and humiliation. Both words mean to be brought low to the ground. The difference between them comes from the circumstances by which we are brought low.
Today’s passage encourages readers to stay humble, even when we believe we have achievements worth bragging about, to stay low until those in authority recognize our accomplishments and raise us up. When we brag about ourselves, we are apt to be brought low in front of everyone.
One day, our bodies will return to the dirt and we’ll bow down before our Creator. Our highest earthly accomplishments won’t matter; only what we’ve done with God’s love will. On that day, will He raise you up or bring you low?
Prayer: Lord, keep my heart humble so I might one day be lifted up.
