I was one of the speakers at a family camp in Canada. One afternoon as my wife and I were visiting a couple who directed the children's ministry, their teenage son came in and sat down. During a lull in the conversation he asked me, "Who are you, one of the big shots here?"

Momentarily I was speechless. Young people have a way of cutting through pretense and getting right to the point. "Well," I replied, "some people around here might think so, but you and I know the truth."

God has no big shots, yet the "Christian world" has created celebrities, and many people bow at the shrine of big-name speakers and musicians. Some in public ministry begin to believe the superlative descriptions of themselves and think they are superior. But when pride takes over, shame and disgrace are sure to follow (Prov. 11:2). In contrast, the pursuit of humility brings honor (29:23). Men and women who truly understand God's greatness detest any signs of pride within themselves (8:13).

It's appropriate to show honor and respect to God's servants, but we lack wisdom if we think of ourselves or others as "God's big shots."

Lord, help us to hate sinful pride as You do!  — Dennis J. De Haan