“Help me Clarence. Get me back…Please, God, let me live again.”
—George Bailey after returning to the present with Clarence
Humility is not an easy characteristic for human beings to develop and practice. Although humility would be very difficult to measure, there is a statistic which states approximately only 15% of human beings value humility and score highly on ways to measure it. Lower yet are leaders who many times excel in pride and arrogance. If you have allow the Lord to bring forth a humble spirit in you, blessings are yours to receive. You will have a desire for learning, understand your own worth, have a healthy sense of well-being, and you will see the value of others.
In our lesson, today, from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” we note the slow-growing humility of George Bailey as he begins, with the help of Clarence, to see his life more clearly. At first, George is quite resistant to anything Clarence verbally offers in a way of help and he struggles to see as Truth what life without him would be like in Bedford. Interestingly, before George acknowledges his need for Clarence’s help, he pridefully expresses doubt, frustration, as well as anger for how trapped he feels in his life. George yells, “Well, I’m going to get out of it! I’ll get out it!” He will learn he cannot fix this situation without God’s help.
No one, including his wife or his mother recognize George in the flashback Clarence provides, because George simply does not exist. He has never been born. His encounter with Mary not recognizing him was the last straw. He feels alone and betrayed. So, George runs to the bridge over troubled waters and yells for God’s help… “I want to live! Please God, let me live again!” Jesus is the Bridge to connect heaven and earth.
How many times have you run to the Bridge over the troubled waters you were facing in this world? The goodness of God to provide Jesus—the Way, the Truth, and the Life with God—is the finest Gift ever bestowed upon sinful humanity. In order to enjoy new life with God, we must take a humble posture and die to our fleshy arrogance. There is only One True God! So, let’s be mindful of how we can be humble life-long learners and position ourselves in the mercy and goodness of God’s love. Having JOY [Jesus Overshadows You] is a choice for the humble.
OT Reading: Micah 6:8 NLT “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
NT Reading: Luke 14:11 NLT “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the mercy you extend to us when we call on your holy name. We thank you, today, for all you are doing to help us develop a greater measure of humility. It will help us be more respectful and honoring to you, it will place us in the proper position under your authority, and it will help us look at others in a healthy and godly way. Therefore, we cast down our fleshy pride and humbly ask for you to lift us up and be our strength, support, and success in Jesus’ name. Amen.