Lost Virtues: The Death of Humility – Part 3 – A world of Sumo wresters

“Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.” ― Andrew Murray, Humility

Sumo wrestlers vs. wearing a Sumo suit.

I was thinking about humility this morning and I had this thought. It might not make sense at first, but let me explain. I thought about just leaving it like that and see what your response would be, but I just couldn’t do that to you.

As you may or may not know, I am a fan of “The Office.” I cannot recommend the show to you, because it is not the most righteous of shows, but we’re committed to the show. There is one episode that aired quite a while ago where Michael is trying to use unconventional means to choose who would be his replacement if he got another job. One part of the competition was wearing inflatable Sumo suits and having a Sumo wrestling competition. I’ll let you imagine the results. It’s more fun that way.

Now, to the connection. As I was thinking about humility, I was trying understand what it is that keeps us from being truly humble. And I had this thought, when we are too full of ourselves, there is no room for humility. When I started thinking about there not being enough room, this was the image that came to mind. I’m sure it says something about me, but I don’t know what…

A real Sumo wrestler is literally full of himself in comparison to somewhere wearing a Sumo suit. A real Sumo wrestler couldn’t fit into a Sumo suit. No offense if you are one…but a real Sumo wrestler is not too easy on the eyes. However, someone wearing a Sumo suit has room for something else besides himself in the suit. If we are too full of ourselves, there is no room in us for anything but us.

And that is where I see a lot of our world today. We live in a world of Sumo wrestlers. Instead of having room to be filled with something out of this world, we are full or ourselves and everything we can absorb in this world.

This is not just my idea, or Mr. Murray’s, it’s biblical:

“²⁴ I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:24-26 – NIV ’84)

If we seek to be full of ourselves, our reward will be…drum roll…ourselves. If we seek to empty ourselves of our pride, selfish ambition and vain conceit just as Christ did, then there is room for God to do work in us and through us. Isn’t that a much better reward? I’d much rather have heaven living in me than a Sumo Wrester. How you read that sentence, is not how I meant it, but oh well.

Personally, I don’t want to be a Sumo wrestler. Having to wear that revealing outfit would be terrifying.

What about you?