Learning and Leading in Ministry: Chapter Twenty-Five

Do Not Enjoy Your Accomplishments Too Much

Learn modesty.

No name was given, and it’s just as well. The video clip, now spread throughout the internet, shows the world’s most unfortunate cyclist approaching the finish line in first place. Sensing his victory, his hands shot prematurely into the air in celebration of his win. The sudden movement threw him off balance, causing him to lose control of his bike and wipe out. You can hear the horrified crowd draw in their collective breath in unison. The poor guy scrambled to his feet and tried, without success, to jump back on the bicycle. The most embarrassing thing, though, was that the second place cyclist overtook the early celebrant, cruised into first place and won the race. It hardly seems necessary to point out the moral of the story, but, just for the record, don’t celebrate too early. You never know what can happen.

Responding to the media on the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, General Russell Honore said that some people are “stuck on stupid.” In the spirit of that remark, don’t get stuck on yourself. Win and get over it. As proud as you may be of your accomplishments, always remember that other people are not as impressed as you think they should be. In their minds, they may attribute your success to your rival’s bad day, fortuitous circumstances, the weather or pure luck. But even if they think you deserve your accolades, they will back off in a hurry if you become your favorite topic. Few burdens are heavier to bear than a conceited person. The story is told that Mohamed Ali, when he was Cassius Clay, was once on a plane. A flight attendant asked him, “Please fasten your seatbelt.” In his typical style, he responded , “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” She countered, “Superman don’t need no airplane either.” ^[1] Boasting is boring. Leaders keep pointing to the future, not the past.

Boasting represents man’s measurement of himself. The problem is that he may be using the wrong standard. The federal government established the Office of Weights and Measurements when the United States of America was founded to standardize measurements. Until then, it was a huge mess. For example, all of the following capacity measures were used in the colonies: the firkin, kilderkin, strike, hogshead, tierce, pipe, butt, and puncheon. Even when the same unit was used from colony to colony or locality to locality, it often did not have the same value. A bushel of oats in Connecticut weighed 28 pounds, but in New Jersey it weighed 32 pounds. By your standards, you may be phenomenal. By another’s, you may barely be mediocre. By God’s standards, you’re not even a blip on the screen. Measuring yourself by God’s standards keeps your pride in check.

But even beyond pride, shed the constraints of past accomplishments. Treat every day as a new day. If yesterday’s success is the best you can do, you’re finished.

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^[1] Zuck, R. B.