Jesus said, “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 22:12

John Wooden, the great basketball coach for the University of California Los Angeles won ten NCAA titles in a row. He reached the pinnacle of success, and in his lifetime many considered him the greatest coach in the history of any sport. Yet what did John Wooden think of himself. One of his quotes spoke volumes to me.

“Talent is God given, be humble. Fame is man given, be grateful. Conceit is self-given, be careful!” 

Humility is like a breath of fresh air in life, almost like that sweet sound of a basketball touching nothing but net as it flows past the rim, “Swish!” Jesus fully understood the power of humility. In Matthew 22:12 He said, “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” In an age when it is so common to try and toot our own horn, create our very own public relations campaign with the world around us, and strive to protect our reputation, Jesus implores us to walk another path. To be exalted, respected, revered, and loved, humble yourself among your friends, your family, and your co-workers. Give God the glory for your success for it is He who made you. Soon you will be walking in God’s will and not yours, Then, and only then, will successes beyond imagination flow through you because it will be “God working in you both to will and to do for to His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13)