The Humble Survive
God has graciously given me the privilege of guiding people into the wilderness for the past 23 years. By His grace, I have been witness to incredible beauty and splendor. The simple life of the wilderness is pure and natural. It is unencumbered by the artificial complexities of life. “Wants” and “needs” are much more clearly defined and understood. Being responsible for myself and others in the far reaches of the wilderness has taught me many significant life principles. Perhaps none are more weighty than this one:
The humble survive and the arrogant do not.
There is a well-known saying in the guide industry. “There are old wilderness guides and there are arrogant wilderness guides, but there are no old, arrogant wilderness guides.” Just a little bit of time in the middle of nowhere reminds us how fragile and uncertain life really is. Underestimating a storm, waterway, distance, or trail can have serious consequences. Likewise, overestimating one’s ability against the forces of nature will lead to trouble. This is why traveling with a guide is a good plan for new adventures and/or locations. We can trust in their experience and understanding of the area. It is very important to listen to the guide and be quick to follow through precisely as directed. We may not always understand the directive at the moment, but we can rest assured that it is always given with our safety and enjoyment in mind.
This is true of our relationship with God as well. It behooves us to listen intently and obey precisely. The arrogant heart challenges God and sets out on its own. The humble heart accepts advice and follows God’s lead. The arrogant heart is limited to its own resources. The humble heart gains access to the unlimited resources of the all-knowing and all-powerful Creator of the universe. The arrogant heart approaches life from an earthly perspective thereby limiting itself to earthly results. The humble heart approaches life from an eternal perspective thereby delighting in eternal results beyond all that can be asked for or imagined.
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
Praiseallujiah!
Jon
