WHEN THE UNIFORM IS TOO BIG
During the recently concluded Winter Olympics in Beijing, five female Japanese ski jumpers were disqualified because of their uniforms. The thigh portions of the team’s suits were found to fit 2cm too loosely, which could give an aerodynamic advantage. “I am very sorry that the chance of winning a medal has been taken away from the Japanese team,” said ski jumper Sara Takanashi. “It is an undeniable fact that my disqualification changed everyone’s lives. Even if I apologize, the [chance for a] medal will not be returned.”
WHEN THE SELF IS TOO BIG
While Job was challenged by his friends and wife to accept their sometimes-false views of God, he stood firm and maintained his innocence. However, he did finally complain to God that he had been treated unfairly. The Lord reminded Job that God is the Almighty One and Job is a mere human. Thus returned to his proper reverence and fear of the Lord, Job humbled himself and repented in dust and ashes, and God again blessed him bountifully.
Questions
- On the whole, do you tend to be a stickler for the rules, or do you prefer to let things slide? Why?
- How might we compare Job’s sense of smallness before God with our own culture’s emphasis on throwing off authority to “live our own truth”?
- What other examples can you think of in which someone humbled himself and God raised him up?
