Staying Humble
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” – (Philippians 2:3 NIV)
I am not generally a fans of awards shows, but I always find the ESPY’s fascinating. Not only did Peyton Manning do a great job hosting this year, but the remarks from the athletes that win the awards are so much different from the interview clichés we hear from them during their seasons. They talk about their teammates in a different way, the folks behind the scenes, and their families. It is like we get to see the human side of these athletes that we often only view as entertainers.
I cannot fathom what it would be like to be a star athlete. The attention that they receive every day and the way they have to alter their lives to protect their privacy is absolutely insane. And the athletes on the ESPY stage, they are not only stars but they are the best of the best in the world at what they do.
Despite their status, what was the common theme that I heard during their speeches? Humility. Many of them spoke about how humbled they are to receive the awards, to be classified in such an elite group, and to be blessed with the ability to perform at such a high level. I continue to be blown away by these comments.
Part of the reason that their humility is so shocking to me is that I struggle to be humble myself. I have not accomplished very much, especially compared to the public accolades of these athletes. Yet, I find that my pride often gets in my way of being who God wants me to be.
As a Christian, the Bible is very clear that my life is not supposed to be about me. I am called to deny myself, to be willing to give up every part of my life, and to follow Christ wherever He may lead. And while I do my best, it is a real struggle to not put myself first when times get tough. I have to keep reminding myself that in order for Him to become greater in my life, I must become less.
Perhaps if the top athletes in the world can be as humble as they showed at the ESPY’s, I can find a way to better humble myself and let God work in my life the way that He sees fit.
– Jamie Boggs
