Column: Child provides reminder of need for humility

By DR. MARK ROSS/Columnist

One Sunday, a minister and his wife were driving home after worship. He was reflecting on how well the day had gone, in particular how well his sermon had gone. In a rather pensive moment, the minister asked his wife, “How many truly great preachers do you think there are in this country?”
Without hesitating, she coolly replied, “One less than you think.”
Of all the professionals, it would seem that ministers would be the most humble. In one sense, humility is part of the job description. Instead, ministers can have a propensity toward arrogance. To put it in biblical language, some of us have a tendency to be “puffed up.”
This is not a recent trend. Jesus spoke of the ministers in his day as wearing robes with long attention-getting tassels on the bottom. He said they loved to make lengthy prayers in public and insisted that people refer to them by exalted titles.
I think for ministers arrogance is an occupational hazard. As falling is to window washers or being eaten is to lion tamers, pride is to the minister. For that matter, pride is a pitfall for anyone who tries to tell others how to live, believe or anything else to which people are willing to listen. After awhile it can all go to your head.
“Pride comes before a fall.” That is how the Bible puts it. Which is a way of saying when we spend so much time looking back to admire how far we have come, we may miss where we are going. Thus, “pride comes before a fall.” I know the tendency toward pride is there, I know the fall is coming, but sometimes it sneaks up on me.
Last week was one of those times. A child from the church was sick and in the hospital. Though she had been very ill, when I stopped by Amber’s room, she was felling better. Several members of the church had been to see her. They had brought her a variety of gifts to make the hours pass quicker. I brought no gifts, assuming my coming would be enough. When I walked into the room, Amber was busy coloring. I greeted her and asked how she was feeling. She showed me all of her gifts and gadgets. After a few moments, I felt that it was time to go.
I told Amber, “I need to go back to the church, but I want to pray for you first.”
Amber was busy coloring in a book. She paused long enough to say, “No.”
I began to think that maybe I should remain longer; it was obvious that Amber wanted me to stay. Hospitals can be boring places. I am sure she wanted the company, but I had other visits to make. “Amber, I am sorry but I have to go. I am going to pray for you now.”
She did not say it cruelly or unkindly, but in a matter-of-fact voice, Amber said, “Please pray quietly, I am trying to concentrate.”
Ministers are humble, more or less. More when we remember whom we represent and whom we serve. Less when we imagine that all of that reflects our own importance. At times, the pride exceeds the humility. God sends Ambers to correct that.
There is an old prayer spoken by a church on behalf of its minister. “Lord we will keep him/her poor, if you will keep him/her humble.” Generally, the pay takes care of the poverty, but sometimes God needs help with the humility. Thank you, Amber.

Dr. Mark Ross is the pastor of Marion Baptist Church. To learn more about MBC, visit http://www.marionbaptistchurchva.com/.