Recently, I watched a video of a message by Elisabeth Elliot, who was the widow of Jim Elliot, one of five American missionaries killed in 1956 as they attempted to evangelize to the Auca tribe in Ecuador. The title of this message was Make Yourself Small: Meekness. The first part, “Make Yourself Small,” really stood out to me as this seems to contradict societal norms. Many people want to be seen and desire to be considered as influential and accomplished. Yet this is antithetical to the Gospel in which being a servant and humility is promoted rather than self-importance. Ms. Elliot understood about serving and becoming small for the benefit of others. After her husband died, she went to live with the people from the same tribe who killed him. It is difficult to comprehend how she could have done this. But she didn’t let self-pity and focusing on herself and her family stop her from obeying God’s instructions. She made herself small and did not think that her hurt was bigger than God’s will, so she forgave the people who killed her husband, served them and loved them, while leaving behind a life of comfort in the United States to live in a primitive society with her young daughter. Her life reflected the life of Christ.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus became small for us. But are we willing to become small for others? It seems to me that many people believe they are called to a ministry that puts them in the lights, and they reject ministries that leave them in the shadows. However, there is no greater place to be than resting in the shadow of the Almighty. When we try to make ourselves big in the sight of others we can never be at rest because we are always trying to do more to please others. Jesus calls us to be servants, just like He was.
And whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:27-28
For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. Luke 22:27
In Jamaica, you will often hear the bus conductors say in Jamaican vernacular, “Small up yuself.” Then, those who are already in the bus are expected to squeeze in a tighter space to make room for others to come on the bus. This results in a very uncomfortable journey. Life too can be uncomfortable when we have to make ourselves small to accommodate others in our lives, in our homes and in our ministries. These people may be different from us and challenge us in many ways, yet God has put them in our lives for a reason. Sometimes God uses them to make us humble, as He hates pride.
Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:12
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time. 1 Peter 5:6
It is better to humble ourselves before God, rather than striving to make ourselves important before others. We need to decide to make ourselves small in order to live as God instructs us to live by His grace, loving the unlovable and serving the forgotten ones. And it is not only about the act of serving because many people serve to be seen, but instead it is important to have the heart of a servant. We may be able to hide our motives from others, but we cannot hide anything from God. So let us truly make ourselves small, not only in our actions, but also in our hearts.
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