“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” — Psalm 8:3-4
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Will Anderson won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2023 as a defensive end and pass rusher for the Houston Texans. He is an incredible player who uses power and speed to make quarterbacks uncomfortable in the pocket by outmaneuvering offensive linemen to get sacks and knock down passes. In the world of football, he is pretty impressive and his greatness in his position is a big deal.
Keeping perspective and staying humble, though, is important — for Anderson and for all of us. Pausing to take a look around us can help us realize the smallness of our reality in comparison to the greatness of the Creator and His creation.
When we look up at the stars during the night, we realize we are a small part of a vast universe. The many galaxies extend for an estimated 93 billion light years. Since one light year is 5.88 trillion miles, that means we couldn’t travel across the whole area of outer space in 1,000 years even if we had a space ship for travel. In other words, our minds are too small to understand the incredible size and scope of everything God made.
About two-thirds of the surface of the world is covered with water. That’s 352 trillion gallons of water in all of the seas! In the grand scheme of history and even the future, each one of us is but a drop of water in the huge ocean. Thinking about God’s greatness gives us the proper perspective by keeping us humble and stirring our hearts to worship God and live for God’s glory rather than just living for ourselves.
When David looked up at the sky while keeping his sheep, he could see how magnificent God is in comparison to himself and the rest of us. Seeing the greatness of nature inspired David to look above the stars to see the Maker of all these things. “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4). David was admired by many people for playing his harp, slaying giants, singing and writing wonderful psalms for worship, and being a mighty warrior and good king. But he knew the angels sang better than him and he knew he didn’t even compare to God for wisdom and power.
Of course, we enjoy hearing positive feedback on our work and receiving encouragement in general, but we need to always be mindful that God is the only One worthy of worship. As long as we focus more on God’s infinite wisdom and power and are careful to not think too highly of ourselves, we are less likely to sin or become corrupt. As the apostle Paul denied himself and lifted up Christ in front of everybody, he had a powerful ministry. He bragged on God and not himself. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33).
Whatever you are going through, good or hard, shift your perspective from focusing on your reality to the awesomeness of the Creator of our universe, knowing He has you in the palm of His hands. Only He is worthy of our worship and He is bigger than any of our problems.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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