When It Comes to Famous People, God Gets It Backward – Inspiration from The High Calling

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:32 pm by Mark D. Roberts

When It Comes to Famous People, God Gets It Backward – Inspiration from The High Calling 2015-03-13T15:32:14-05:00 Mark D. Roberts

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble,

but he keeps his distance from the proud.

Psalm 138:6

Have you ever noticed that famous people tend to hang out with other famous people? If you’re a “somebody,” whether an athlete, a rock star, or a media mogul, chances are you spend your time with other “somebodies,” people of similar social status to yourself. Meanwhile, the rest of us “nobodies” mingle with those who are rather like us.

God gets it backward. He does precisely the opposite. According to Psalm 138:8, “Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.” For many of us, this is good news. Though we may feel like “nobodies,” in fact, our humble state means that we’re the kind of people who receive God’s special care. By implication, God even likes to hang out with us!

For those of us who tend to think highly of ourselves, whether deserved or not, this psalm offers a word of warning. If we are proud, if think we are really amazing, then God keeps his distance from us. Perhaps this is true because proud folk tend to be self-reliant. They aren’t inclined to need anybody else, including God. Proud people push God away, a

So, if you are a person of little cultural influence, take heart. Not only does God care for you, but also God tends to use people like you for his purposes. If, however, you’re a person of significant social capital, don’t let this go to your head. Receive your success and situation as gifts from God, but remain humble before him and others. Realize just how much you need God and how immeasurably great he is. Let these truths guide your life and God will always be close to you.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: How do you respond to Psalm 138:6? How can a person be successful and also humble?

PRAYER: Gracious God, I am both encouraged and challenged by this psalm. I’m encouraged because I realize once again that you care for me, that you are not impressed either by my accomplishments or by the lack of them. Thank you for caring for me and being present in my life.

I am challenged, Lord, to remain humble. I confess that there are times I want to be a somebody in the eyes of the world, perhaps even in my own eyes. I can be proud in a way that closes my soul to you. So, I pray, help me to be humble, to have an accurate sense of myself, to rely on you and be open to your presence in my life.

All praise be to you, O God, because you alone are truly great, yet to care for the humble. Amen.

_________________________________________________

Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?

Here’s how . . . .

This devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God (www.thehighcalling.org). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.

Inspiration from the High Calling

Previous Post

June 15, 2012

As Father's Day Approaches . . . "Lunch with Dad"

Next Post

June 18, 2012 If You're Ever in Blanco, Don't Miss the Redbud Cafe

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Advent Calendar Alissa Wilkinson Archeology Art and Faith Ash Wednesday Bible Books Business Business and Faith Christian Year (Liturgical or Church Year) Christmas Christmas according to Dickens Christmas, Culture, and Christ Christmas: Keeping Christmas Well Church and Culture Church and Ministry Church and Technology Church Life Church: What is a Church? Cities Code of Ethics for Pastors Contentment Creativity Cultural Commentary Culture Daily Reflections Dallas Willard Deliberating on Digital Dignity Easter Education Ephesus and the New Testament Ethics Eugene Peterson Evangelical Existential Questions Faith Faith and Work Family Food Friendship Fun Good Reads Gospel Centered Christianity Grace Handel's Messiah Harvard University Health High Calling History Holidays Holy Spirit Holy Week Hospitality How Does God Guide Us? Hunger Games Insights for Leaders - De Pree Center Inspiration from the High Calling Jesus Jesus: Following Him as a Disciple Jesus: Seven Last Words Jesus: Was Jesus Married? Jesus: What Was His Message? Jesus: Why Did He Have to Die? Laity Lodge Leadership Leadership Conversation Lent Les Miserables Life for Leaders Linda's Advent Doodles Linda's Lenten Doodles Living Well Loving Neighbors Max De Pree Center for Leadership Mental Health Mission of God and Missional Church Money Moral Dilemmas Mormonism Movies Nature New York City Pastors and Churches Pentecost Photos to Share Poetry Police Blotter Politics Prayer Preachers Portal Preaching Presbyterian Church Quotations Reading the Times Recommendations Reflecting on Technology Religion and Culture Ruminations Sabbath Science Seven Last Words Sexual Harassment Social Media Something to Think About Spiritual Warfare Sports Stations of the Cross Stephen Hawking: Heaven and Faith Stories Technology and Culture Technology and Education Technology and Mental Health Technology Bits Texas Thanksgiving The High Calling Thin Places Uncategorized Vocation Women Words Work Worship

Select a Month November 2018 October 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 April 2015 March 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 November 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who is described as "a beloved physician" and accompanied Paul?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Mark Silas Luke Titus