Humbled, Yet Esteemed
The title of this piece is taken from a song “Within the Heart Of God”. In particular, the lyrics:
(We are)
“Favored, Blessed and Broken
Chosen and Redeemed
Accepted and Beloved
Humbled, yet Esteemed”
Those two words, “humbled” and “esteemed” are like precious treasures in perfect balance on the scales. In my life, I have usually over-emphasized one or the other, to my detriment.
On the one hand, true humility (an accurate assessment of who God is and who we are), is so easily replaced by false humility, a mealy-mouth religiousity complete with pious sounding empty platitudes, giving lip-service to God while demeaning one’s own dignity.
It sounds like this:
“That was a wonderful song!”
“Oh, it wasn’t me, it was the Lord.”
To which the astute complimenter may reply: “Why, that’s funny- I could have sworn it was you up there singing!” (A humble reponse could be simply: “Thank you!”.)
The other word- “Esteemed”- when taken out of balance, smacks of humanism, or a western exalting of the individual at the expense of everyone else.
Religion, however, has caused the practitioner to despise and fear our humanity. We so easily forget that Jesus, though always God, became a man, and indeed will forever be the “Son of Man”.
Much like humility, esteem is valuing something or someone according to intrinsic worth.
Indeed, only by seeing ourselves as God sees us through Christ can we rightly know that we are highly esteemed by the Creator of the universe.
Being reminded that it is only by grace will help us to esteem ourselves properly, with humility and thanksgiving.
Godrest and Godspeed,
David Baroni