The Welcome Valley Reader
Sir
When I was a schoolboy,
sir was an awesome word. In my
father’s stories of World War II, ordinary soldiers called the officers who
commanded them, “Sir!” My southern cousins were taught to use the word when
addressing their father. I both envied and pitied those cousins. I could imagine
myself saying, “Sir,” but I couldn’t actually do so—it was too humbling
Eventually, I grew up. Sir became a
polite way people addressed men they didn’t know very well. The word lost most
of its awe somewhere along the way.
I’ve
been thinking about sir again
recently, though. These thoughts have been inspired by the fact that people call
me, “Sir,” fairly often. No I’m not a
southern father—or any other kind of father for that matter. I never joined the
army. I’m a civilian with a menial job. I’m a yardman at a lumberyard. I move
heavy objects and pick up trash. I serve our company’s customers. I cut their
boards to the lengths they ask, carry those boards to their trucks, and load
them. If a customer demands a really nice board, I sort through the pile until a
suitable one is found—and do so politely, even when irritated.
It’s
when I carry somebody else’s load to his car that he says, “Thank you, sir.”
After putting my own opinions and feelings aside to make sure the customer has a
good experience, I get called, “Sir.” I’m a
sir as a servant.
The
Bible teaches that the person who humbles himself will be exalted. That
principle primarily relates to humbling ourselves before our Maker so we can
find His grace and mercy. Yet, God has placed ongoing examples of this truth
into everyday life. The person who demands honor often loses that honor in the
end. The person who lowers himself to serve receives honor. In fact, Jesus
Himself took such an approach and acted as a Servant rather than the King.
I’m a
yardman largely out of economic necessity. I’m not particularly humble, and not
all my customers call me, “Sir.” Still, it is refreshing to realize that the One
who calls on us all to humble ourselves before Him promises to lift us up. He
wouldn’t have to. But then, He earned the right to have all bow before Him by
humbling Himself to die on a cross.
Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no
reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father. (Philippians
2:5-11)
This essay is in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely.
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