I’m not what you’d call a typical manly guy. I’m not mega outdoorsy and I’m not even that into sports. But, for the first time in my life, I own a house that has green grass. (In Texas, that’s a feat.)
So nearly every evening, you can find me outside with a hose in hand, keeping that grass looking lush. It’s become a source of pride for me. I hate to admit, but I even get a smug feeling when I see the yards of my neighbors on either side of me. My grass is slightly greener than theirs.
Never mind the guy across the street who has the best lawn and landscaping I’ve ever seen. I suspect he might dye his grass, because I’ve never seen grass so green in a Texas home. But again, I don’t really compare myself to him, because I know I won’t match up. Instead, I focus on the two on either side of me, who I can feel superior to.
Isn’t that the human condition? We look for people we can feel superior to. As long as we have a few people below us on the totem pole, we can feel pretty good about ourselves. As if greener grass made me a better person…
I can’t help but think of how far away from Jesus’ model that is. Paul tells us in Philippians 2: “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Makes the superiority I feel from having green grass feel a bit silly. And the truth is, our greatest achievements are nothing in the light of what Jesus did.
So let’s not find superiority in these things that are so fleeting. Rather let’s look to Jesus’ superiority and follow His lead—becoming servants in obedience to God.
Does that mean that you are going to be wartering your neighbour’s gardens too?
You’re taking this too far, bro. 😛