We're Doing the Best That We Can

In 1980, Mac Davis wrote and performed “Its Hard tobe Humble.” It was tongue in cheek song about how hard it is to be humble when you are good looking, on top of the world and perfect in every way. Mac finished the song by saying he’s doing the best that he can.

 

Today’s reading is Philippians 2:1-11 and it is about humility.

 

Jesus was figuratively on top of the world, that is, in heaven, at the time of creation. As the Son of  God, he was perfect in every way. Unlike Mac Davis, who tried, but was unsuccessful at being humble, Jesus perfected humility.

 

It was not hard for Jesus to be humble.

 

Jesus came to earth and lived with us. He healed and fed many. He brought the dead to life. He prayed for many.  As a teacher, he spoke words of wisdom where ever he went. Jesus truly was a servant.

 

Jesus was living with his father. He had a perfect life in a perfect place with perfect beings.

 

Yet he left perfection to live with us – unclean, corrupted and prideful as we are. Consider the honor and glory he had amongst the heavenly beings. He left all that to serve us, to love us, to give us everlasting life. That is a sign of humility.

 

We (humankind) repaid Jesus by nailing him to a cross. We as humans sometimes are not very grateful.

 

As Philippians states, Jesus asks us to be servants too.

 

We are to love people by caring for them and tending to their needs. Perhaps we can teach them about Jesus. Perhaps we can share a meal. Perhaps we can help someone get needed medical help. And yes, we can pray for others.

 

Obviously we cannot bring people to life, so I suppose we cannot be exactly like Jesus.

 

However, if we do the things we can do, then as Mac Davis sang, “We’re doing the best that we can.”