My friends,
Perhaps you have noticed that I updated the title for my position at my fledgling company UNIT Materials. Those of you that have worked with me in years past, may have seen this Del Taco employee of the Month certificate hanging on my cube wall next to my other certificates. Obviously, it was gesture of humor, but not without a more sober connotation. One might think that I was poking fun at my Del Taco achievement. If this is how you interpreted this gesture, then you were not understanding me. The Del Taco certificate was placed next to my other certificates as to put all my achievements into proper light.
It is a good thing to strive for achievements, but it is never a good thing to glory in them. When I was a very young man, I worked hard at Del Taco, and I legitimately earned recognition for it. Does my Del Taco certificate stack up to any of my other certificates?
Does that really matter? No, it does not matter!
A certificate is nothing more than proof that we passed a test of some kind in our time here on Earth. That is all that it means.
We all face challenges in life. When we overcome a challenge, we are sometimes recognized by others for that achievement. Yet, we can never take full credit for that achievement. There is always someone to thank for our achievements. Most of all, we could have never achieved anything unless God had created us in the first place. He gives us air to breath, water to drink, food to eat, and He blesses us with everything that we need to overcome the challenges that we receive recognition for.
When we glorify ourselves for our achievement, we rob God. When we let God glorify us for our achievement, then we glorify Him.
As it is said, Satan is the prince of pride. Therefore, this is the reason why I hung up my Del Taco certificate, and it is why I changed my title.
God is my Lord and my master.
I have been accused of being bold. My actions have been received as one that has a feeling of self-entitlement. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am a worm. But! I am obedient to God.
As many of you know, God chastened me with a very stubborn gastrointestinal affliction. He did that because I was especially disobedient in my youth. God had great mercy and compassion upon me, and He got my attention. Now I am a little more wise, and I understand that I do much better when I obey His commandments.
Nevertheless, my obedience to God is seen as boldness and entitlement, but it is not my boldness nor my entitlement. It is God that is bold. Who can say to God, “you should not do that?”
Are we greater and wiser than God?
I am his servant and nothing more. The servant is not greater than his master. My Lord came to this Earth and died on a cross to save lost sinners. How much lower could God have made Himself? How could I ever esteem myself any higher than what God was willing to descend to in order to save your soul and mine?
Your comments and questions are welcome, even the critical ones. You can submit comments without specifying an email address (despite the fact that it indicates that an email is required). If you do, I ask that you use a fairly anonymous (benign) username. However, if there is something amiss with your anonymously submitted comment, I will not have any way of telling you what is wrong.
