The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
–Proverbs 22:4
There’s a popular gift-exchange game played around Christmas called the White Elephant.
Everyone buys a gift. It can be humorous or perhaps valuable; often, it is totally useless. The unwanted gifts are the “white elephants”: perhaps an ugly piece of home décor, a wacky garden gnome, a rusty tire iron, or a CD from some bad musician.
While rules vary, part of the excitement is in stealing something of value from another player, or in trading a gift you don’t want for something you do. No one wants to be stuck at the end with a white elephant.
Today’s verse speaks of valuable gifts that we all desire: wealth, honor, life itself. The problem is, while we desire these gifts, we want them while still holding onto our pride. We want wealth without trusting God for our provision.
We want honor without first humbling ourselves and giving God His due. We want a life without revering God as the source of life.
Pride and independence are nothing but a white elephant: useless, ugly — more of a burden than a pleasure. But unlike the party game, God wants your white elephant! In exchange, He will give you the most valuable gifts in the world.
Reflection
What white elephant will I bring to Jesus today?
Prayer
Dear loving God, Thank You for seeing me as a valuable person. Help me to see myself as You see me. May I never take the gift of salvation for granted. I pray in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.