Devotionals by Dr. M. Craig Barnes
Humility goes before honor.
I've heard a lot of funeral eulogies. That's when someone stands up to say a few final, summary words about the life of the deceased. Some eulogies are a bit more truthful than others, but all of them try to say something honoring about this person's life. Over the years of listening to these final words, I've noticed that no one talks much about the accomplishments of the deceased. In the end, the only thing we really honor is character.
We all want to live an honorable life during our few, fleeting years. But for some reason we spend most of those years trying to rack up accomplishments, even though that's the stuff that doesn't last long after we're gone. Apparently, it doesn't even make it to the funeral.
After the eulogies are done, the pastor stands at the pulpit to read God's Word and proclaim the message of grace. That's when we hear that it doesn't matter what we have done, or not done; our only honor before God is found in what Jesus has done. So actually, those are the final and summary words said about the life of the deceased.
People who realize that's how it is going to end are less obnoxious about their accomplishments in life. They laugh more often, love more easily, and work without being compulsive. Most of all, they maintain a sense of humility about the grace of life. That is precisely what we'll remember about them long after the funeral.
-- Craig Barnes