Keep the ice off your bowTony was a professinoal salt-water fisherman. He explained how he cruised out to sea each morning, coming back each evening with his catch. “Is there a part of the year you can’t go out?” I asked. “The winter--too risky. Below freezing, the spray starts forming ice on the bow. The added weight makes the boat lie lower in the water. Inexperienced guys fishing in winter have allowed Think of that bow-ice as representing sinful pride. Little by little it builds up until you can’t stay spiritually afloat one moment longer. Look at the Pharisees. They didn’t intend to be so arrogant. Jesus called them blind because they were unaware they had this problem. But little by little their self-congratulatory attitude expanded their egos until it shipwrecked their spirituality. We modern believers face a similar challenge. What can we do to knock off the pride weighting us down? Here are a few principles from Scripture. 1) I must regard others as better than myself (Phil. 2:3). As far as I can tell, I am forgiven a debt of millions of sins, compared my brother or sister, forgiven of only a few dozen (Matt. 18:23-35). 2) I must be willing to associate with the humble (Rom. 12:16). Or it could be translated, “Be willing to perform humble tasks.” I learn humility by imitating it and by practicing it, by learning the worth of every person and every task. 3) I must continually recognize my debt to the Savior—-without Him I would be hopelessly lost (Rom. 5:6-8). A heart filled with inexpressible gratitude cannot simultaneously swell with self-satisfaction. Little by little, day by day, let’s keep the “ice” off our bows. Disaster awaits anyone who ignores this warning. |
| —Steve Singleton DeeperStudy.com |
Want to go deeper?The Greek verb tapeinoō ("humble, make ashamed, humiliate"--14 occurrences), along with the corresponding adjective tapeinos ("humble, lowly, poor, of humble circumstances, downcast, downhearted, lacking confidence"--8 occurrences) are used ten times in the Gospels, seven times in Paul, and three times in James and twice in First Peter. Jesus promises that those who humble themselves will be exalted, while those who exalt themselves will be humbled (Matt. 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14). He points to the humility of a child as the model (Matt. 18:4), and in His invitation to those who are burdened and weighted down, He identifies himself as "gentle and humble in heart" (Matt. 11:29). Both James and Peter repeat this same principle (James 4:5, 10; 1 Peter 5:5-6), and Paul explains a practical way to learn humility: by associating with the lowly (or being willing to perform humble tasks--the Greek allows either interpretation). Paul certainly practices what he preaches, as he demonstrates to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 7:6; 2 Cor. 10:1; 11:7; 12:21). He points the Philippians to the self-humbling Christ underwent (Phil. 2:8) and acknowledges that he himself has known the same lowly state (4:12). As one writer states, "No one gets to heaven without learning humility."
Thomas Jones and Michael Fontenot. The Prideful Soul's Guide to Humility (2003). Emphasizing how pride can damage relationships, this practical and inspirational book provides advice on how to demonstrate humility and build a relationship with God. It explores the biblical definition of pride and gives examples of true humility in Jesus throughout the New Testament and discusses the ways in which humility releases individuals into their true selves and transforms relationships. It also includes suggestions for learning to practice humility regardless of the situation. Recommended for online reading: Henry P. Liddon. "Humility and Action," sermon 6 (139-164) in his Sermons preached before the University of Oxford (9th ed., 1889). |
so much ice to build up on the bow that in heavy seas the bow starts to dip beneath the waves. One dip too deep, and she goes down. Only thing to do for it is to grab an ax and knock the ice off once in a while. If you forget and let it build up, you’re dead.”