This is going to date me but who remembers the TV show Kung Fu? It had David Carradine as the kung fu student named Caine who was trying to learn and grow into a kung fu master. There is a scene at the beginning of the show which has Caine accomplishing the thing that gives him freedom from the monastery where the monks were. Watch it here
Caine was finally able to snatch the pebble from his master’s hand. This was the deciding event that had been tried over and over but this scene indicated that he had finally developed sufficient skills and wisdom and was ready to leave the school and go out into the world. Did you catch the last phrase about being humble?
I can only imagine the frustration, anxiousness, and patience that it took for Caine to get to this point. It was a pinochle event which he had many reasons to be proud and to pat himself on the back. That is our challenge today as well. We should be working and striving to do our best everyday and with the help of God I pray that we all have success. Here in lies the challenge. Are we accomplishing those things on our own power or are we being humble and relying on God to guide us and give direction acknowledging that everything we have and are is His to begin with.
There are so many verses that speak to being humble but here are just a few that stand out and are very impactful.
Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Micah 6:8 – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
James 4:6 – But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 3:8 – Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
if you haven’t watched the Kung Fu TV show I would encourage you to go back and check it out. The show had Caine in many different situations crossing all kinds of boundaries. It crossed race and economic statuses while showing how this young man could influence society by his humble love for humanity and love for justice for the less fortunate. It was not Christian specifically but it espoused many Christian values and ideals. Going out into the world we still have a lot to learn. Just because you can snatch the pebble from the masters hand does not make you a master. Be humble and let the stones of life speak!