“Unity grows where humility flows.” David Bush

Tom and I had the privilege this Sunday to attend a grand opening celebration. It was for a church in Miami that our church planted 28 years ago.

They just acquired a permanent facility for their church to settle in Miami Gardens. No more renting. The entire day was filled with touchstones only God could produce.

David, now the senior pastor, was 3 when his parents joined our church in Orlando. Today he is 36 and married to the daughter of that church plant’s pastor.

Why do I share all of this? It is primarily to show that God always brings us full circle to see His faithfulness, if we are watching for it.

David’s message today was anointed by the Holy Spirit. He spoke of the importance of humility to produce unity in the church. He used the example of his yard.

When they bought their first home the front lawn was lush and green; the kind of grass you want to walk on barefoot. But now a couple of years later, the yard is covered with weeds and dirt. He said the reason is he failed to water the grass.

The application is that in order for the grass to grow it needed water. It is the same for the church or any relationship. We need the water of humility for unity to flourish.

Are you and your spouse struggling to communicate peacefully? Do words lead to misunderstandings which lead to conflict? Oh, we have been there. And it’s usually over the stupidest of things. The enemy sits back and smiles as he watches his plan at work to divide us. Pride doesn’t want to back down, especially if you feel misunderstood.

How do we stop this trend?

Humility. Jesus demonstrated humility for us by taking the lowest place. He who placed the stars and their expanse in the sky, chose to limit His power to rescue us from the bondage to sin. He went even further by dying on a cursed cross. He knew we could never conquer the power of sin, so He did what we couldn’t do. What a glorious gift salvation is for those of us who believe.

Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less, as John Piper has said.

Consider this past weekend—How was the temperature in your marriage? Heated? Do you know why? If not, examine the events leading up to the increased tension. Was there something you wanted that you didn’t get? Or was your spouse selfishly demanding their own way? We all give in to these temptations. We are still prone to sin, but not bound to it. We have a way of escape. It is simply to humble ourselves, and take the lowest place so Christ is exalted and unity is restored.

Unity is marriage is cultivated by a humble heart.

May God grant us the desire to seek humility above all things for the good of our marriage and for God’s glory.