Sermon: "A Steward's Humility"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

I want to say, first of all, a word of welcome to the Rev. Randy Morgan. I have known and respected Father Morgan since the 1980's and early '90's, when we served as fellow priests in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina. All of us will have the opportunity soon to celebrate officially the New Ministry that Father Morgan and St. Paul's share. On this day, though, I am delighted to welcome Father Morgan to this place. Further, I want to observe that our Collect today expresses well my hope and prayer for the ministry of all the people of St. Paul's: "Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works." Father Morgan and the people of St. Paul's, may that prayer mark this significant moment, as well as all the journey you will share in the future.

Now, having pointed out a matter of pride for us all, I intend to speak for the rest of this sermon on the dangers and pitfalls of pride.

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall"(Prov 16:18). So wrote the author of Proverbs some four hundred years before Christ. And the wisdom of that observation still rings true. Of course, in our day we usually shorten the message: "Pride goes before a fall." In either the long or short version, however, the meaning retains its significance. Further, that recognition provides a crucial foundation for both the Old Testament and the Gospel readings this morning. Each of them advocates the life of humility as opposed to the way of pride.

Now, we need to realize something at the outset of our consideration. Biblical pride is not the same thing as contentment or self-satisfaction which we often call "pride" today. And so, maybe we're off the hook in terms of our pride in calling a new rector and in presenting good candidates for confirmation. In addition, biblical pride is not the pride of identity or association with a group. This is not even the pride of winning some contest or event or war. Rather, pride of which the Bible speaks refers to a puffed-up attitude, an exaggerated sense of self-importance. This is pride that requires someone else to put down…pride at the expense of another person or group…pride not just in winning but in beating up those other guys. That's pride in the biblical sense. And that's the pride lamented by the author of Ecclesiasticus and by Jesus.

Ecclesiasticus deals with the issue from an interesting angle. That is, according to that Old Testament book, pride is alien to human nature. In the created order of things, pride should have no part in people's lives. It should not be an issue, for in spite of evidence to the contrary, it should have no power for human beings.

The author observes that "the beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord." Since we are created to be in union with God, then that which causes separation from God is a force alien to creation. And pride fundamentally indicates that we have forsaken the Lord.

The author concludes his comments about pride with these words: "Pride was not created for human beings." The humble way presents the intended behavior and attitude of humanity in God's creation. The prideful way is an alien force.

Jesus was fond of saying that "the first shall be last, and the last shall be first." His image of creation's intention indicates a world turned upside down. Those who are puffed up with pride now will discover a remarkable absence of reason to boast in God's order. Jesus expressed the idea this way in our Gospel reading: "All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." The biblical witness, therefore - in both the Old and New Testaments - extols the virtue of humility and condemns the sin of pride.

A personal application of this principle occurs to me. I want to suggest to you - from my own experience - that in a parent, both pride and humility can reach amazing heights. Indeed, again from personal experience, a parent's puffed up pride may quickly be deflated into penitential humbleness. Parenthood seems to breed pride and yet, at almost the same moment, to generate good reason for profound humility.

Therefore, in this puzzling complexity of emotions and reactions, it seems to me that the proper self-perception for a parent is that of a steward - that is, one who cares for something owned by somebody else. In fact, I recommend the image of steward to each of us as we try to find our way through life's confusing maze. Whether we have been given care of money or possessions or children, we do well to see ourselves as stewards, for God's sake. Make no mistake about this - to perceive ourselves as stewards rather than as prideful owners makes all the difference in the world to our spiritual health and to our emotional well-being.

Here's an analogy for you to consider. A parent might be understood as a steward in many settings. However, my favorite situation involves teaching a child to ride a bicycle. The parent as steward picks out the bike - or, at least, helps with that choice. The equipment needs to be safe, after all. Later, the parent maintains a firm grip on both the child and the bike as the child climbs aboard for the first time. That firm grip continues as tentative movement follows. And, after more experience, the parent trots along, trying to encircle the child with protecting arms and to support the bike at the same time. Later, the parent runs beside the bicycle, keeping pace and acting as the final safety net. And then, at some point, that crucial moment comes. With hope - mixed with apprehension and excitement and many other emotions - the parent watches the child ride off, alone.

As a parent myself, I know the humility of acknowledging the child's success in the bike rides of life - in eating, in going to school, and, in marrying, for instance. In my good moments, I know also that my job, my position in God's world, is that of a steward of that child, not an owner. For that child, riding off in the distance of life's journeys, is God's child, after all.

God has placed us in this world not to occupy positions of honor and of privilege and of prestige. We are not called to sit at the places of special recognition in the feasts of this life. Rather, our calling is to be a steward of the money and the possessions and the people entrusted to our care by God. Therefore, may we rejoice in the humble calling of steward, realizing that in God's time and place, such humility will be wonderfully exalted!

Copyright © 2001 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee